PREMIUM
GAME OF THE WEEK (Rogers' 10* MLB!) >> +$18,010 Last Season!
(MLB) Atlanta vs. Colorado,
Money Line: -146.00 Colorado (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -146.00 Colorado (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 4-2 Atlanta Braves open a nine-game road trip Friday at Coors Field against the 4-3 Colorado Rockies, who will being playing their home opener of the 2018 season. Freddie Freeman put together a strong opening six weeks in 2017 before a fractured wrist sidelined him for two months and the first baseman again is off to a great start He's batting 421 and enters Friday leading or close to the major-league lead in runs scored (nine), RBI (nine), walks (10) and on-base percentage (.621). Freeman is getting help from some surprising sources, including left fielder Preston Tucker (two HRs, eight RBI in 21 at-bats) and third baseman Ryan Flaherty (10-for-23 with four doubles for a career .220 hitter). Colorado capped a 4-3 road trip (at Arizona and San Diego) to start the season with a 3-1 victory Thursday in vs. the Padres, taking advantage of three walks and an error in a three-run ninth. Second baseman D.J. LeMahieu singled home two runs in the ninth and finished 2-for-4, raising his average to .320. Center fielder Charlie Blackmon also collected two hits and brings a slash line of .345/.406/.828 into the opener of the three-game series.
The pitching matchup: Brandon McCarthy (1-0, 3.38 ERA) gets his second start of the season for Atlanta and will be opposed by the Rockies' German Marquez (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who also makes his second start of the young season. McCarthy benefited from a huge uprising by the Braves offense to win his Atlanta debut Saturday, a 15-2 rout of the Philadelphia in which he gave up two runs on six hits with five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. He pitched well for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season before a variety of injuries limited his availability in the second half but McCarthy posted a 3.45 ERA in spring training. .
Marquez struggled with his control in his first start Saturday against Arizona, walking four hitters and giving up four hits but no earned runs over five innings. Marquez became a solid part part of the Rockies' rotation in 2017, going 11-7 with a 4.39 ERA in 29 starts (Colorado was 17-12 in his starts, plus-$642 vs. the moneyline).
The pick: Atlanta enters Friday leading the majors in runs scored (48) and team batting average (.297). Yes, McCarthy had a good first start for Atlanta but is just 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) against the Rockies and 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in four games (three starts) at Coors Field, where he has yielded 23 hits, including four HRs and seven walks in 17 innings with nine strikeouts. Marquez will make his first career appearance against the Braves, but is 7-3 with a 4.29 ERA in 16 career appearances at home. In 15 starts at Coors Field, the Rockies have gone 10-5. The Rockies are 15-10 in home openers but have never played the Braves in one. Seven of Colorado's past eight home openers and 13 of its past 15 have been against National League West opponents. I'm making Colorado a 10* play.
The pitching matchup: Brandon McCarthy (1-0, 3.38 ERA) gets his second start of the season for Atlanta and will be opposed by the Rockies' German Marquez (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who also makes his second start of the young season. McCarthy benefited from a huge uprising by the Braves offense to win his Atlanta debut Saturday, a 15-2 rout of the Philadelphia in which he gave up two runs on six hits with five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. He pitched well for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season before a variety of injuries limited his availability in the second half but McCarthy posted a 3.45 ERA in spring training. .
Marquez struggled with his control in his first start Saturday against Arizona, walking four hitters and giving up four hits but no earned runs over five innings. Marquez became a solid part part of the Rockies' rotation in 2017, going 11-7 with a 4.39 ERA in 29 starts (Colorado was 17-12 in his starts, plus-$642 vs. the moneyline).
The pick: Atlanta enters Friday leading the majors in runs scored (48) and team batting average (.297). Yes, McCarthy had a good first start for Atlanta but is just 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) against the Rockies and 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in four games (three starts) at Coors Field, where he has yielded 23 hits, including four HRs and seven walks in 17 innings with nine strikeouts. Marquez will make his first career appearance against the Braves, but is 7-3 with a 4.29 ERA in 16 career appearances at home. In 15 starts at Coors Field, the Rockies have gone 10-5. The Rockies are 15-10 in home openers but have never played the Braves in one. Seven of Colorado's past eight home openers and 13 of its past 15 have been against National League West opponents. I'm making Colorado a 10* play.
