The Colorado Rockies will be taking on the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. This NL matchup will begin at 7:05 p.m. ET and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network is in line to broadcast the game.
Colorado Rockies at Washington Nationals Odds
Vegas has listed Colorado (+165) as the underdog to Washington (-175). The total sits at nine runs and bettors can take the over for -120 and the under for +100. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds sitting at -135 for the Rockies +1.5 runs and +115 for the Nationals -1.5.
The Rockies are 7-7 SU and have gone 6-7 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 3.0 units for moneyline gamblers in the season’s early going, but have gained 0.3 units ATS. Colorado’s covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Nationals are 6-7 SU and 5-7 ATS. They’ve lost 3.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.1 units ATS. Washington has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Washington games have a 5-5-2 over/under record so far in 2018. The Rockies have an over/under record of 6-6-1.
The Rockies have gained 1.9 units and are 3-3 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in three of those games, compared to three that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Nationals have lost 0.6 units and are 1-1 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in zero of those games, compared to one that’ve gone under.
Kyle Freeland (0-2, 5.56 ERA) will get the start for the visiting Rockies. The southpaw Freeland started 28 games last year and finished the season 11-11 overall with a 4.10 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP.
The Nationals will put the ball in the hands of righty Tanner Roark (1-0, 4.50 ERA), who struck out 166 hitters in 181 innings last year (with 64 walks). Roark finished the season 13-11 overall with a 4.67 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He recorded two starts against the Rockies a year ago and put up a 1-1 record with a 5.40 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
Washington’s pitching staff has allowed 4.7 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 3.36, a WHIP of 1.18 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.7. The bullpen has a 5.19 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 11.0 K/9.
Washington’s offense has produced 4.2 runs per contest, including 3.4 per game over its last 10 games and 3.0 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .230/.318/.354 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Nationals’ batters have been led by outfielders Bryce Harper and Adam Eaton. Harper is hitting .286/.467/.714 with 12 hits, six homers, 12 RBIs and 13 runs scored, while Eaton’s line is .345/.424/.655 with 10 hits, five RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Harper had a decline in production when facing lefty pitching at home last year. In 69 such plate appearances, he slashed .295/.362/.328 (compared to his total season line of .317/.411/.596).
In the visiting dugout, Colorado’s pitching staff allowed 4.6 runs per game and its starters own a 4.63 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 8.13 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.15, along with a K-per-9 of 8.48.
The Rockies offense has slashed .233/.307/.406 on its way to 4.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Second baseman DJ LeMahieu and outfielder Charlie Blackmon have led Colorado’s hitters. LeMahieu is slashing .351/.422/.649 with 20 hits, eight RBIs and eight runs scored, while Blackmon is hitting .282/.391/.641 with 11 hits, four homers, six RBIs and nine runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .331/.399/.601, Blackmon taken a step back when hitting right-handed pitching on the road in 2017, putting up a slash line of just .284/.346/.476 across 254 such plate appearances.
Colorado Rockies at Washington Nationals MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Nationals, ATS Winner – Rockies, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
Colorado has recorded 18.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 18.2 over its last five.
The Rockies have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
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