Dodgers get pitching help for series with Rockies

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers are hoping the return of a pair of left-handed starters will provide a boost to their injury-beleaguered rotation.

Brett Anderson (0-2, 24.75 ERA) and Scott Kazmir will make their first starts in more than a month. Anderson will take the hill Thursday when the Dodgers (86-66) host the Colorado Rockies (73-79) for a four-game series.

Anderson, who has been on the disabled list with a blister on his left index finger, hasn't pitched since Aug. 20 when the Cincinnati Reds tagged him for six runs in three innings. That was only the second start for Anderson, who has missed the majority of the season after undergoing surgery for a herniated disk in March before returning in August. Anderson has surrendered 11 runs in four innings this season.

He hasn't faced the Rockies since Sept. 26, 2015 at Coors Field, where he served up six runs on 10 hits in four innings. Although Anderson didn't factor into the decision, the Dodgers fell 8-6.

In his career against Colorado, Anderson is 1-0 with a 4.43 ERA in four starts.

Kazmir (neck inflammation) will start Friday's contest. Kazmir has been on the disabled list since Aug. 23. He threw a simulated game on Sunday.

"I think with Kaz, he's been dealing with injuries the second-half of the season, so in talking to (pitching coach Rick Honeycutt) and Scott and myself he feels good and he's in a good place, and we have to see what we have in him," manager Dave Roberts said. "He's a guy that we have high expectations for, and we have all season, but it's been a tough year for him."

The Dodgers will re-evaluate both starters after their outings and determine their roles as the club heads into the final week of the regular season and beyond. One of the two could emerge as a No. 4 starter in the postseason although Kazmir appears to be the frontrunner if that turns out to be the case.

Roberts said it was too early to come to any conclusions.

"We're trying to sift through decisions and see how guys perform," he said.

The Rockies performed on a high level in an 11-1 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, allowing them to avoid a three-game sweep. Nolan Arenado's grand slam sparked Colorado.

"I feel like we've played overall very good offense all year," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said, according to MLB.com. "Situationally, you're talking about a chance to have a big inning. Nolan gave us that with one swing. He turned it into a big inning. I feel like offensively, we've handled those innings well."

Tyler Chatwood (11-9, 4.13) will start Thursday's contest for the Rockies. Chatwood is 7-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 11 road starts this season. He will be facing the Dodgers for the fourth time this season. Chatwood is 1-2 with a 4.00 ERA in three previous outings.

Overall, Chatwoood has a 4-6 mark with 3.56 ERA in 10 career starts. At Dodger Stadium, he is 3-2 with a 1.36 ERA in six starts all-time.