Rockies vs. Giants Thursday Pick
National League West rivals square off at AT&T Park this weekend when the San Francisco Giants host the Colorado Rockies. Will the Rockies pull off the upset in the first game of the four-game set?
Game Snapshot & Odds
959 Colorado Rockies (+116) at 960 San Francisco Giants (-126); 8 runs
Thursday, May 17, 2018
10:15 p.m. ET, AT&T Park
TV: COL (ATTR); SF (NBCSBA)
Compare odds and from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new Baseball Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Giants as a -126 favorite. As of this writing, 66% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Rockies to beat the Giants on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Rockies’ Bettis allows seven runs to Brewers in last start
Chad Bettis was roughed up for the first time this season Friday, giving up seven runs in five innings against the Brewers. The offense still saved him from taking his second loss, but his ERA jumped from 2.05 to 3.12 tonight. While he’s a perfectly solid starter, he’s not a good bet in mixed leagues going forward.
Giants’ Samardzija roughed up again in last start
Jeff Samardzija surrendered five runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings while taking a no-decision in Saturday’s loss to the Pirates.
Three of the five runs on Samardzija’s line touched home courtesy of the home run, with Gregory Polanco knocking him for a solo home run in the fifth inning and Francisco Cervelli joining in on the fun with a two-run shot in the sixth. Samardzija finished his evening’s work having struck out five and walked two. It’s been a troublesome year for the veteran right-hander, who will carry an unsightly 6.94 ERA and 1.71 WHIP into a home showdown with the Rockies when he next toes the rubber.
Samardzija has surrendered at least five runs in three of five outings this season. To be at least somewhat fair, he did get a late start to the campaign due to a pectoral strain, so it’s possible there is still some rust being knocked off, here. Still, he’s going to need to get it together in relatively short order given the injury attrition the Giants are currently facing in their starting rotation
MLB Betting Trends
Colorado
The Rockies are just 2-6 in their last eight games against the Giants and are winless in their last five games in San Francisco.
San Francisco
The under is 4-0 in the last four meetings between these two teams in San Francisco, is 6-2 in Samardzija’s last eight outings versus the Rockies and is 5-2 in the last seven meetings overall.
Prediction:
The Giants have dropped four of Samardzija’s last five starts versus the Rockies, are 2-7 in his last nine starts overall and have dropped seven of their last 10. The Rockies, meanwhile, are 25-12 in Bettis’ last 37 starts, are 4-1 in his last five road outings and are 6-0 in his last six starts when their opponent allows five runs or more in its previous game.
The Pick: Colorado Rockies +116