The Colorado Rockies will face the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. This NL matchup gets underway at 12:35 p.m. ET and fans can watch it on ATPT.
Colorado Rockies at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Vegas has listed Colorado (+115) as the underdog to Pittsburgh (-125). The total is sitting at 8.5 runs and gamblers can wager on the over or the under for -110. The game’s current runline odds stand at -180 for taking the Rockies +1.5 runs and +160 for the Pirates -1.5.
The Rockies have gone 11-8 SU this year and are 10-8 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 2.5 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season and 3.0 units ATS. The Pirates, on the other hand, are 11-6 SU and 9-7 ATS. They’ve gained 6.2 units for moneyline bettors and 2.8 units ATS.
Pirates games have an over/under record of 10-5-1 so far in 2018. Rockies games have gone over eight times, gone under eight times and pushed on two instances.
Kyle Freeland will get the nod for the visiting Rockies. The southpaw Freeland is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 15 strikeouts. He has yet to face Pittsburgh this year, but he did make two starts against the team in 2017, putting together a 1-1 record with a 4.63 ERA and six strikeouts.
The Pirates are turning to righty Chad Kuhl (1-1, 5.74 ERA), who has 13 strikeouts and four walks as well as a 1.79 WHIP. Kuhl made two starts against the team in 2017, putting together a 0-2 record in 2017, putting together a 0-2 record with a 5.73 ERA.
Colorado’s pitching staff allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.13 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 8.07 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.59, along with a WHIP of 1.39.
Rockies hitters have slashed .215/.286/.385 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Outfielder Charlie Blackmon and second baseman DJ LeMahieu have led Colorado’s offense. Blackmon is hitting .309/.387/.745 with seven home runs, 13 RBIs and 13 runs scored, while LeMahieu is hitting .297 with five homers, nine RBIs and 12 runs scored.
Blackmon did not do as well batting against righty pitching on the road last year, putting up a slash line of .284/.346/.476 across 254 such plate appearances (his overall season line was .331/.399/.601).
In the other dugout, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has allowed 4.5 runs per game overall this season. The club’s starters have a 3.62 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 6.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.66 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 7.3 K/9.
The Pittsburgh offense has produced 5.2 runs per contest, including 4.0 per game over its last 10 games and 2.4 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .206/.268/.297 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Pirates’ hitters have been led by outfielders Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson. Marte is hitting .308/.400/.569 with 20 hits, seven RBIs, 15 runs and five steals, and Dickerson’s line is .328/.354/.525 with 20 hits, 12 RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .275/.333/.379, Marte did not perform very well against lefties at home last year, slashing .147/.216/.176 over 37 such plate appearances.
The Rockies have gained 4.4 units and are 5-4 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in five of those games, compared to four that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Pirates have lost 1.4 units and are 1-2 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in three of those games, as opposed to zero which went under the total.
Colorado Rockies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Rockies, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has cashed in just two of Colorado’s last seven games.
- The Rockies have won six of their last seven games SU.
- Colorado has recorded 15.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 13.6 over its last five.
- The Rockies have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
