Arenado says it's 'easy to get hyped' in LA

LOS ANGELES -- Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado’s fourth-inning home run to center field on Tuesday ended up drawing a huge Dodger Stadium applause.

Turns out it had nothing to do with the fact that Arenado grew up south of Los Angeles, in Lake Forest, Calif., or the fact that he’s hit more homers (15 going into Wednesday) at Chavez Ravine than any other player in Rockies history.

A fan with a first baseman’s mitt on his right hand made a leaping catch in front of the batter’s eye -- a tarp-covered section of the bleachers. The fan landed hard on a bench, but maintained possession.

“I heard the crowd cheering, like … ‘I know I don’t have that many family and friends here,’” Arenado said. “I found out he [the fan] made the great play, and that’s what they were cheering for. When I hit it, it got loud and I didn’t know what was going on.”

Even if the fans don’t cheer for him, Arenado feels at home when the Rockies come to Los Angeles.

“When you’re facing the best, you’ve got to bring your game,” said Arenado, who said he sat in the upper reaches of the stadium when he came to games growing up. “In a season like this, when it’s just not going well, it’s almost easy to get hyped here, with the music and how good they are. They bring out the best in almost anybody. They win a lot.

“It’s home. I always get a little more amped up when I come home. It helps me, but sometimes it can hurt me a little, too, if I get a little too amped up. I love it. I love coming here.”

Arenado was heading into 57th game at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. Todd Helton had 13 home runs in 120 games. Among current Rockies, Trevor Story was next with six in 21 games, good enough for eighth place.

The power at Dodger Stadium is another sign that Arenado has a swing that travels. Arenado carried a .954 OPS into Wednesday (eighth in the National League), his .881 road OPS would rank 20th overall in the NL, and he has more home runs on the road (19) than at home (18).

Arenado, who also had close home run splits in 2015 (20 home/22 road) and 2017 (19 home/18 road), said adopting a practice suggested by first-year Rockies hitting coach Dave Magadan -- practicing against a pitching machine -- has helped his swing travel.

“I’ve never been a big machine guy, but Mags kept pushing me to do it,” Arenado said. “He told me a lot of good players he’s been around have done it, and he got me to buy in. It’s been really helpful."

Arenado admits the technique is something he might not have accepted earlier in his career.

“When you play in Denver and go on the road, the ball moves a little differently -- sharper break. Every time I’ve gone on the road this year for a series, the first couple days I see a lot of breaking balls off the machine to get my eyes ready for the breaks. It’s changed a lot for me this year on the road. I’ve felt way better and adjusted so much quicker on the road than last year.”

Freeland’s progress slowed

Lefty Kyle Freeland, out since leaving an Aug. 20 start with a left groin strain, had a hiccup in his comeback. The Rockies scheduled him to throw off the slope of the mound on Monday, but backed away that afternoon. Freeland is still throwing on flat ground, but his return is more uncertain. He still wants to pitch in a game before the end of the season.