PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* Afternoon BREAKTHROUGH >> 3-0 Tuesday! 12-4-2 Since Break!
(MLB) San Diego vs. Colorado,
Money Line: -168.00 Colorado (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -168.00 Colorado (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Rockies struggled before the break (lost 13 of 18 games) and when they returned to play, promptly lost 14-2 and 9-3 to the Mets. That gave them 15 losses in their previous 20 games but Colorado "stopped the bleeding" with a 13-4 rout of the Mets on Sunday. Colorado returned home Monday to open a three-game series with the Padres, who were just 16-28 on the road to open this week. The Rockies were hoping they could build some mojo against the Padres. That's exactly what has happened, as Colorado followed its 13-run Sunday effort at Citi Field by scoring nine runs on both Monday and Tuesday in winning both games. That three-game winning streak has them within a half-game of Arizona in race for the NL's top wild card spot and has allowed the Rockies to keep the red-hot Cubs at bay, who trail them by 5 1/2 games for that final wild card spot. San Diego has fallen to 40-53 overall (the Padres can't even see the Dodgers in the NL West), which includes a 16-30 road mark.
The pitching matchup: Clayton Richard (5-9 & 4.75 ERA) takes the mound as the Padres try to avoid the sweep and will be opposed by Jon Gray (2-1 & 6.23 ERA) of the Rockies. Richard is win-less in his last five starts, going 0-2 with a 6.18 ERA (team is 1-4). Padres manager Andy Green told reporters, "He's the unquestioned leader of the team and his preparation is second to none for his own craft. He's ready to pitch every five days. He's a tremendous leader, tremendous teammate. He means more to this organization than I think anybody outside could really know." I'm not sure just what to make of that statement. Richard defeated the Rockies back on June 2 (gave up four runs - three earned - on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings) and is 4-4 with a 4.79 ERA in 16 career appearances (15 starts / teams are 7-8). Gray was rocked by the New York Mets in his last outing, giving up eight runs on nine hits in two-plus innings of a 14-2 loss. However, he had pitched well in his first two starts since returning from a foot injury that caused him to miss two-plus months to begin the season. Gray posted a 3.09 ERA in two wins, while striking out 15 in 11 2/3 innings. He is 2-2 with a 2.30 ERA in seven career starts vs. San Diego (team is 2-5).
The pick: Here's the rub. The Rockies come in having scored 31 runs in three straight wins (have 30 hits) and on the season, average 5.93 RPG at Coors. In contrast, SD is 18-30 on the road, getting outscored 5.28-to-3.59 RPG. Richard has made seven career starts at Coors Field and owns a 7.78 ERA, while Gray owns an 0.86 ERA in three career starts at Coors Field against the Padres. Make Colorado a 10* play.
The pitching matchup: Clayton Richard (5-9 & 4.75 ERA) takes the mound as the Padres try to avoid the sweep and will be opposed by Jon Gray (2-1 & 6.23 ERA) of the Rockies. Richard is win-less in his last five starts, going 0-2 with a 6.18 ERA (team is 1-4). Padres manager Andy Green told reporters, "He's the unquestioned leader of the team and his preparation is second to none for his own craft. He's ready to pitch every five days. He's a tremendous leader, tremendous teammate. He means more to this organization than I think anybody outside could really know." I'm not sure just what to make of that statement. Richard defeated the Rockies back on June 2 (gave up four runs - three earned - on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings) and is 4-4 with a 4.79 ERA in 16 career appearances (15 starts / teams are 7-8). Gray was rocked by the New York Mets in his last outing, giving up eight runs on nine hits in two-plus innings of a 14-2 loss. However, he had pitched well in his first two starts since returning from a foot injury that caused him to miss two-plus months to begin the season. Gray posted a 3.09 ERA in two wins, while striking out 15 in 11 2/3 innings. He is 2-2 with a 2.30 ERA in seven career starts vs. San Diego (team is 2-5).
The pick: Here's the rub. The Rockies come in having scored 31 runs in three straight wins (have 30 hits) and on the season, average 5.93 RPG at Coors. In contrast, SD is 18-30 on the road, getting outscored 5.28-to-3.59 RPG. Richard has made seven career starts at Coors Field and owns a 7.78 ERA, while Gray owns an 0.86 ERA in three career starts at Coors Field against the Padres. Make Colorado a 10* play.
