Brewers vs. Rockies Pick
Are the Milwaukee Brewers and the Colorado Rockies going to hit the total in Denver Friday night at 8:40PM EST?
Oddsmakers at sports book Bovada.lv have made the Rockies a -170 favorite to win, while the Brewers are a +145 underdog. The over-under is set at 12.
Matt Garza (6-6, 4.38 ERA) draws the start for the Brewers, while the Rockies will go with rookie German Marquez (9-5, 4-13). Garza has struggled over his last two starts, giving up eight earned runs which included four home runs over 3 1/3 innings August 8 in an 11-4 loss at Minnesota. He followed that up with an average performance versus the Reds on August 13, giving up four runs (three earned) in 5 1/3 innings during a 7-4 home win. Garza has a 1.34 WHIP in 18 starts this season. In his last start at Coors Field, he was shelled for 10 runs (seven earned) on 13 hits in 3 1/3 innings. Marquez has provided a useful young arm in the Rockies rotation, although his last start at Miami was his worst outing in his last eight appearances. He surrendered five earned runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 5-3 loss. The Rockies have lost his last two starts, but previously had won five in a row when he started. Marquez is 5-2 at home this season with a 4.31 ERA.
This is the opener of a three-game series. These two teams met back in April in Milwaukee, with the Rockies taking three of four games. The over-under was 2-2 in the four games. Milwaukee enters with a 63-59 record and is 28-29 on the road, while Colorado is 67-54 and 37-23 at home.
Milwaukee enters on a four-game win streak, including a 7-6 triumph Wednesday over the Pirates. Keon Broxton hit a pair of solo home runs in the win, while Manny Pina hit a deciding two-run homer in the eighth. Neil Walker and Travis Shaw also homered in the win. The Rockies are 3-7 in their last 10 games and lost 10-4 at home Thursday in a finale with the Braves. Making matters worse, Nolan Arenado left the game with a hand injury although X-rays were negative. Charlie Blackmon had three hits including his 28th homer of the year in the loss, while Jeff Hoffman took the loss on the mound as he gave up four earned runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Taking the over at Coors Field is never a bad option. Twelve is always a lot of runs to score, but Matt Garza has a poor history in Colorado and Marquez could potentially be hitting a rookie wall. To boot, these two offenses have been cooking lately. Watch the runs pile up.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: BREWERS/ROCKIES OVER 12