The Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Coors Field on Tuesday to open a three-game set against the Colorado Rockies.
Los Angeles has won back-to-back games and is just one game behind the San Francisco Giants in the NL West Division standings with their 96-54 record. The Dodgers have won eight out of their last nine games overall with their opening game loss to the Reds their only defeat during this period.
Meanwhile, the Rockies are 70-79 on the year and 4th in the same NL West divisional standings. They are so out of playoff contention but they have been hot as of late and could play the spoiler’s role here. Colorado lost to the Nationals on Sunday but won that series 2-1. The Rockies have won seven out of their last nine games played.
This is the final set between these two division rivals this year and the Dodgers currently hold an 11-5 edge.
The Dodgers have been able to keep pace with the Giants in the NL West despite their offense struggling during the last 30 days. That order seemed to have woken up when they scored 8 runs against the Reds on Sunday. Will Smith, Gavin Lux, and Corey Seager went deep early and Los Angeles took a 6-0 lead and never looked back to win the game 8-5.
Julio Urias will open on top of the hill for the Dodgers. The 25-year old picked up his MLB-leading 18th win last week when he pitched five innings and allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts in a win over the Diamondbacks Urias is 18-3 on the season with an ERA of 2.99 in 29 starts.
Max Muncy is in the MVP conversation with 34 home runs and 86 RBI with an OPS of 0.910 in 132 games played. Meanwhile, Justin Turner leads Los Angeles with a batting average of .278 while also having an OBP of .363 and SLG of .472.
The Rockies opened the season on the wrong foot and they have been busy trying to get back to the .500 mark. Colorado has played better since June and in their last nine games, they have dropped just two, including a 3-0 defeat to the Nationals on Sunday. Despite their struggles, the Rockies are 79-69 against the spread and are a solid 45-27 at home this season.
Antonio Senzatela is set to start for the Rockies in Tuesday’s series opener. Senzatela has started 25 games this season and has posted a 4-9 record with an ERA of 4.06. In his most recent start, the 26-year old pitched six innings against the Braves and conceded two runs on seven hits with sevens strikeouts and no walks allowed.
C.J. Cron has been impressive for the Rockies this season with 27 homers and 83 RBI in 130 games played. Cron has posted an OPS of 0.886 this year while batting at .267. On the other hand, Raimel Tapia leads Colorado with a batting average of .276 with an OBP of .331 and SLG of .371.
The Dodgers are 37-14 in their last 51 games played. Los Angeles is 9-3 in their last 12 Game 1 of a series, 38-13 in their last 51 Tuesday games, 104-43 in their last 147 games against an opponent with a losing record, 43-19 in their last 62 games after an off day, 42-19 in their last 61 games after a win, 15-6 in their last 21 road games, and 37-14 in their last 51 games played overall.
The Rockies are 5-1 in their last six games played. Colorado is 4-0 in their last four games as betting underdogs, 6-0 in their last six games against a left-handed starter, 5-1 in their last six games played on grass, 24-9 in their last 33 home games after a road trip of seven or more games, and 35-17 in their last 52 games at home.
Head to head, the Los Angeles Dodgers are 39-13 in the last 52 meetings between these two teams. And they are also 5-1 in the last six meetings in Colorado.
Despite their current standing, the Rockies have posted a winning record since June. Colorado has also played well at home, going 45-27 at Coors Field this season. Senzatela has pitched better at home this year with a 3.89 ERA when throwing pitches in Colorado. Urias also struggled in his last outing at Coors Field so there’s actually value in the Rockies here.
However, there is no question that the Dodgers are the better team at all facets and despite their offense not clicking on all cylinders as of late, you have to trust that they will get it going sooner or later. Urias had troubles in his last start at Coors Field but he’s having his best year in the majors. Overall, he has been terrific on the road with a 12-2 record in 16 starts with an ERA of 2.64 away from Dodger Stadium.
I won’t blame you if you go with the plus money and the Rockies. But the Dodgers are the safe bet here with one of their best pitchers of the season on the mound.
Prediction: Dodgers -200
The total has gone under in 20 out of the Dodgers’ last 27 Game 1 of a series. The under is 8-3-2 in their last 13 games as road favorites, 31-15-5 in their last 51 games played on grass, 8-2 in their last 10 games against a right-handed starter, 12-3-1 in their last 16 Tuesday games, 10-1 in their last 11 days after an off day, 8-3-2 in their last 13 road games, and 31-15-5 in their last 51 games played overall
The total has gone under in 19 out of Colorado’s last 27 games as underdogs. The under is 7-2 in their last nine games against a left-handed starter, 37-18-3 in their last 58 games when the total is set between 11-12.5, 19-8-1 in their last 28 games when scoring only two or fewer runs in their previous game, 21-10 in their last 31 home games, and 4-1-2 in their last seven games played overall.
Head to head, the under has hit in each of their last five meetings. The under is also 4-1 in their last five games played at Coors Field.
Coors Field has produced so many high-scoring games but getting to double-digit scoring with this pitching matchup will be had.
Urias has 21.4 K: BB% and is having a career season with an 18-3 record and a 2.99 ERA in 29 starts. Meanwhile, Senzatela has a 3.89 home ERA this season. The Dodgers are pitching to an ERA of 2.25 in their last 10 games played while the Rockies pitchers’ have an ERA of 3.84 over that stretch.
On offense, these teams haven’t been very good at the plate as of late. The Rockies’ 82 wRC+ is the worst in the majors this season and the under a strong play for them all year long. The Dodgers have an explosive lineup but in the last 30 days, they have only produced an 88 wRC+. I expect a low-scoring game here.
Prediction: Under 11
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