LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Ross Stripling knows he will have to weather the early going Sunday if he wants to get back to his winning ways.

Stripling will face a Colorado Rockies team that is known for fast starts. The Rockies lead all of baseball with 70 runs scored in the opening inning. They also lead the majors with 24 first-inning home runs.

The Rockies are focused on trying to counter the Dodgers’ offensive muscle. Manager Bud Black is preaching to his pitchers to be aggressive.

“We knew coming in (the Dodgers) had power [url=http://www.atlantafalconsteamonline.com/justin-bethel-jersey]Authentic Justin Bethel Jersey[/url] ,” Black said. “We know that you have to keep the ball out of the middle of the plate. We have been attacking them and going after them to get into more favorable counts. That’s the message we send to all teams and we have to do it again (Sunday).”

Keeping opponents in check early is one of the many things Stripling has excelled at during his breakout season. The Texas native has allowed one first-inning run in his 11 previous starts, and two extra-base hits.

Rockies starter Chad Bettis also must prepare for a potential volatile first inning. Not only do the Rockies score a ton early, they also have given up 70 runs in the first inning to lead the majors. Their 21 first-inning home runs allowed are second-most in baseball.

The good news for Colorado is that they are on the road where runs and long balls are harder to come by than at Coors Field. And Bettis is the perfect example.

Bettis 5-1 overall with a 5.07 ERA, with all his decisions coming on the road, where he has a 2.72 ERA. At the start of play Saturday, Bettis’ five road victories were tied for third in the NL. He posted his sixth quality start on the road Tuesday at San Francisco, but did not get a decision.

There is added pressure on Bettis after the Rockies demoted Opening Day starter Jon Gray to Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday. In 17 starts this season, Gray was a disappointing 7-7 with a 5.77 ERA.

“This was the right time to get Jon to Triple-A to work on some things, not so much mechanically, but mentally, and to realize the inconsistencies that have been happening this season,” manager Bud Black told The Denver Post after the Rockies optioned Gray.

Stripling has been a bit more consistent.

In his past three outings [url=http://www.minnesotavikingsteamonline.com/kendall-wright-jersey]Authentic Kendall Wright Jersey[/url] , he is 1-1 with a no-decision. He beat the Giants, then lost to the Cubs despite giving up only three runs on June 20. Six days later, he went five innings and gave up one run in the no-decision.

“He’s been fantastic,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of his starter. “For him to not be as sharp as usual and to keep (the Cubs) to one run in five innings is a credit to him. He gives us a chance every single time he takes the mound. He’s done more than exceed our expectations.”

After rolling through most of June behind an offense that hit a franchise-record 55 home runs for a single month, the Dodgers have looked less invincible in recent days. They split a four-game home series against the Cubs and now have lost two consecutive games to the Rockies.

The Rockies will not look back at their overall June play so fondly, but they ended the month on a three-game win streak.

Colorado went 11-16 in the month. Nolan Arenado was a bright spot as he is the reigning NL Player of the Week. Arenado had home runs in seven of 10 games before play Saturday, a run that included a homer in four consecutive contests.

Pittsburgh has had great success against the Washington Capitals in the playoffs, but the Penguins will be challenged by the absence of a couple key players when the teams open a second-round series Thursday at Capital One Arena.

Center Evgeni Malkin, who led Pittsburgh in scoring in the regular season, and Carl Hagelin, a prime penalty-killer, have been ruled out for Game 1 because of unspecified injuries sustained late in the Penguins’ first-round win against Philadelphia [url=http://www.authenticsdetroitlions.com/cheap-kerryon-johnson-jersey]Kerryon Johnson Color Rush Jersey[/url] , coach Mike Sullivan said Wednesday.

“Guys have to step up in different roles maybe,” Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said Wednesday. “I don’t think anybody has to put too much pressure on themselves. I think collectively we can find ways (to bridge the gap). Those guys aren’t easy to replace, but that’s what we’re faced with.”

Washington has one known injury. Forward Andre Burakovsky is out at least for the start of the Penguins series because of an undisclosed injury he got in the first round against Columbus.

The Capitals also have history working against them. They are 1-9 all-time in playoff series against Pittsburgh, including losses the past two seasons and in 2009. In each of those three years, the Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup.

The Capitals don’t find that discouraging.

“There’s not a person in our locker room or on our coaching staff that doesn’t want to play the Penguins,” Washington coach Barry Trotz said. “It’s probably fitting. We’re actually quite excited about it. They’re two good teams. They always have been, and you get another match. It’s all good.”

Washington sniper and captain Alex Ovechkin has repeatedly declared, “I can’t wait,” since just moments after the Columbus series, and he expanded on that Wednesday.

“It’s just fun. That’s why we worked so hard all year, to be in this position,” Ovechkin said. “It’s a big challenge for us [url=http://www.losangelesangelsteamshop.com/authentic-justin-upton-jersey]Authentic Justin Upton Jersey[/url] , especially against Pittsburgh. It’s always a rivalry, always lots of attention to the series, and it’s fun.”

Ovechkin, 32, who has never won the Cup or even reached the Eastern Conference final, figures the law of averages will catch up with the Capitals eventually and they will beat the Penguins.

“One day it has to happen,” he said. “If we want to get success, we have to beat Pittsburgh and move forward. They’re the most experienced team right now in the league. Lots of great players. It’s a huge challenge.”

The Metropolitan Division clubs split their four games during the regular season. Washington won the division, with Pittsburgh finishing second, five points back.

“I don’t think they’re going to change the way they play. They’ve done it all year long,” Penguins winger Phil Kessel said. “I don’t think at this time of the year you change much what you do.”

While the Penguins are set with goaltender Matt Murray, who has won two Cups and had two shutouts in the first round [url=http://www.authenticsseattleseahawks.com/cheap-sebastian-janikowski-jersey]Sebastian Janikowski Color Rush Jersey[/url] , Washington will start off with Braden Holtby, a former Vezina Trophy winner who struggled at times during the season and lost the No. 1 job at the start of the playoffs before regaining it during Game 3 of the Columbus series.

“He’s been professional,” Trotz said of Holtby. “When we made the decision to start (Philipp Grubauer), (Holtby) was all in. He just said, ‘If I get a chance to get in, I’m going to stop the puck for you.’ … When he got in, he backed his words up.”

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