The Colorado Rockies are set to face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. This NL matchup gets going at 12:35 p.m. ET and you can watch the game on ATPT.
Colorado Rockies at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Vegas has listed Colorado (+115) as the underdog to Pittsburgh (-125). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds posted at -110 for over 8.5 runs and -110 for under 8.5. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds standing at -180 for the Rockies +1.5 runs and +160 for the Pirates -1.5 runs.
The Rockies have gone 11-8 SU this year and are 10-8 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 2.5 units for moneyline gamblers through the early part of the year and 3.0 units ATS. Colorado has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Pirates, on the other hand, are 11-6 SU and 9-7 ATS. The team has gained 6.2 units for moneyline bettors and 2.8 units ATS. Pittsburgh has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven outings and the over has cashed in four of those seven.
Pittsburgh games have an over/under record of 10-5-1 so far in 2018. The Rockies have an over/under record of 8-8-2.
Kyle Freeland is getting the start for Colorado. 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, posting a 1-1 record with a 4.63 ERA and six strikeouts.
The Pirates will put the ball in the right hand of Chad Kuhl (1-1, 5.74 ERA, 1.79 WHIP), who has 13 punchouts and four walks. Kuhl made two starts against the Rockies in 2017, posting a 0-2 record with a 5.73 ERA.
Colorado’s pitchers have 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 an ERA of 3.59, along with a K-per-9 of 8.65.
Rockies hitters have slashed .215/.286/.385 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game this season, 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 hitters. Blackmon is slashing .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 seemed to have some trouble hitting righties on the road last season, maintaining a slash line of .284/.346/.476 across 254 such plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .331/.399/.601).
For the home team, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has yielded 4.5 runs per game overall this year. 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 put up 5.2 runs per outing, including 4.0 per game over its last 10 games and 2.4 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .206/.268/.297 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Pirates’ offense has been led by outfielders Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson. Marte is hitting .308/.400/.569 with 20 hits, seven RBIs, 15 runs and five stolen bases, while Dickerson’s line sits at .328/.354/.525 with 20 hits, 12 RBIs and 10 runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .275/.333/.379, Marte seemed to have some trouble hitting lefties at home last season, 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 in such games. On the other hand, the Pirates have lost 1.4 units and are 1-2 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in three of those games, compared to zero that went under the total.
Colorado Rockies at Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Rockies, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The Rockies have won six of their last seven games SU.
Pittsburgh has recorded 20.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 15.2 over its last five.
The Rockies have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
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