SPS Investors
San Francisco vs. Colorado
Pick: Over
The Colorado Rockies are one of the most potent offenses in the league and are (surprisingly) paced by rookie, Trevor Story, who currently leads the league in homers (7) and RBIs (12). Overall, the Rockies are 7th in the league in scoring, averaging just under 6 runs per contest. They are also 9th in overall batting average (.275), while leading the league in both OPS (.916) and home runs (17).
The San Francisco Giants have not been known as an offensive minded team over the last few seasons; however they are coming off an impressive series with the Dodgers in which they plated 26 runs over the 4 game series. They have scored 12, 12 and 9 runs in three games this season. Thus far on the season they are ranked 11th in hitting at .268, 4th in runs scored, averaging 6.14 runs per game and are 2nd in the league in homeruns with 14.
While the offense has been impressive for both clubs, the pitching has been extremely underwhelming. The Rockies have statistically the worst pitching in the league and come into this contest with a combined ERA of 7.04 from its starters and an even worse 9.27 ERA from its bullpen. They are ranked last in the league in ERA, which is where they finished the last two years at. Overall they have a combined ERA of 7.98 and a WHIP of 1.89, which is also last in the league.
Colorado will send Jordan Lyles to the mound tonight and Lyles was hit hard in his opening 13-6 loss at home to Padres. In that game he lasted just 3.1 innings, while allowing five earned runs on seven hits. Last season Lyles went 2-5 with a 5.14 ERA in 10 starts, including 1-3 with a 4.55 ERA in five starts at Coors Field. He is now 6-5 with a 5.17 ERA in 17 career starts in this venue, while in his career vs the Giants he is just 1-2 with a 5.81 ERA in five starts.
The Giants will counter with veteran Jake Peavy. Peavy was mediocre in his opening start of the season, giving up four earned runs on 10 hits in just five innings of work. Last season, Peavy was 8-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 19 starts, including 2-4 with a 4.24 ERA in nine starts on the road. He has gone 7-7 with a 3.90 ERA in 22 career starts vs the Rockies, including 5-4 with a 4.98 ERA in 11 starts at Coors Field.
With both teams having explosive offenses facing inconsistent pitching, we believe this will be a high scoring game, especially in the hitter friendly ballpark that is Coors Field. Expect runs to be scored as this game goes Over the total.
Bob Balfe
Giants -110
Let’s go with the Giants again tonight. Historically this is a team that has good pitching and solid defense, but this year they have tons of power and the ball in flying out of the ball park. The Rockies just don’t seem to have the power like in the past, at least not yet. As long as the Giants are hitting the ball well there is no reason not to take the better ball club at even money.
Harry Bondi
SAN FRANCISCO -105 over Colorado
We will gladly lay the short number and take the better offense, starting pitcher and bullpen with the Giants. SF starter Jake Peavy has actually pitched very well in this ballpark, limited the Rockies to just two runs in 12 innings of work at Coors Field in his last two starts, while Colorado starter Jordan Lyles has been just the opposite, allowing 11 runs in 10.2 IP againts the Giants on this field. SF has pounded righties the last three years, going 134-106, including a 4-1 mark this year, and the bullpen has been outstanding thus far, posting a 1.53 ERA, as opposed the Rockies' pen that has an 8.88 ERA entering tonight.
Vegas Butcher
Boston Red Sox -125
Ubaldo Jimenez off a ‘good’ start is very rare, and typically a great spot to fade him. It’s especially appealing when he’s on the road, as he registered a 1.2 HR/9 rate and 4.6 FIP there last season (compared to 0.7 HR/9 and 3.3 FIP at home). On the other side is Kelly who is off a disastrous outing. Kelly has been much stronger at home (3.7 fIP and 0.8 HR/9), than on the road (4.8 FIP and 1.3 HR/9) last year. He went up against Toronto on the road in his first start this year and got lit up. Expect a bounce-back at home. Baltimore will be without Wieters and Adam Jones today. In addition, Boston’s BP is a little fresher. I like the Red Sox to avoid a sweep tonight.
Bruce Marshall
Miami +4.5
Miami in position to get the Southeast title and third seed in the East playoffs with a win tonight in Boston. Heat has been better able to play thru injuries and illnesses this season, and even though we have no clarity yet on Chris Bosh's status after his latest blood clot scare, the typically-nicked-up Luol Deng and Dwyane Wade have been more reliable than usual, Goran Dragic has wowed on occasion, and Duke rookie Justise Winslow, along with Hassan Whiteside, have given the Heat some athleticism on their frontline.