MLB weekend preview: Rockies at Diamondbacks
July 5th, 2019
Two National League West rivals, the Colorado Rockies (44-42) and Arizona Diamondbacks (43-45), meet at Chase Field for their final weekend series before the All-Star break. Will either team be able to create distance between one another and improve their wild card chances? Here's what bettors should be looking for.
Arizona has its ace on the mound in Zack Greinke, but Colorado is third in batting average over the last seven days at .309. No one has been hotter than outfielder Charlie Blackmon, NL Player of the Month for June, who hit .412 and slugged .835 during the month. Blackmon, 19-for-71 (.268) all-time against Greinke, is just one of several Rockies hitters with respectable stats against the starter. Third baseman Nolan Arenado is 20-for-70 (.286), shortstop Trevor Story is 12-for-41 (.293) and first baseman Daniel Murphy is 7-for-20 (.350).
Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela has a 1.737 WHIP in two starts against the Diamondbacks this year (12 2/3 innings). Center fielder Ketel Marte and shortstop Nick Ahmed are 13-for-28 (.464) combined against the Venezuelan. Third baseman Eduardo Escobar, who has a .462 average in his last seven games, has four hits off Senzatela in 12 prior at-bats.
These bullpens will only throw gasoline on the fire. Arizona relievers have pitched to a 7.79 ERA in the last seven days (26th), while Colorado's relief corps have produced a 7.36 ERA in the same span (25th).
Gray has allowed just three earned runs in two outings against Arizona this year (11 1/3 innings). He's won four straight starts and had a 2.65 ERA in June.
The D-backs have lost seven of the last nine games started by Ray, who pitched to a 5.00 ERA in June (six starts). Ray served up nine home runs last month, which spells trouble against a Colorado lineup that's seventh in OPS against lefties this season (.805). In his last six starts against the Rockies (32 innings), he has a 5.91 ERA.
Marquez's home/road splits contrast wildly, as he has a 3.06 ERA on the road compared to his 5.73 ERA at Coors Field. His opponent batting average in away games is just .201, compared to .315 in Denver. Marquez has also done well to avoid giving up the long ball at Chase Field, where he has allowed just two home runs in his last 34 1/3 innings there (1-1, 3.67 ERA in that span).
Find all the MLB matchups at props for this weekend at BetAmerica!
Friday, 9:10 p.m. ET
Antonio Senzatela (7-5, 4.83 ERA) (COL) +165 / +1.5 runs (-120) / Over 9 runs (EVEN) Zack Greinke (9-3, 2.90 ERA) (ARZ) -185 / -1.5 runs (EVEN) / Under 9 runs (-120)MLB free play: Over
The Chase Field faithful should see some post-Fourth of July fireworks in the series opener.Arizona has its ace on the mound in Zack Greinke, but Colorado is third in batting average over the last seven days at .309. No one has been hotter than outfielder Charlie Blackmon, NL Player of the Month for June, who hit .412 and slugged .835 during the month. Blackmon, 19-for-71 (.268) all-time against Greinke, is just one of several Rockies hitters with respectable stats against the starter. Third baseman Nolan Arenado is 20-for-70 (.286), shortstop Trevor Story is 12-for-41 (.293) and first baseman Daniel Murphy is 7-for-20 (.350).
Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela has a 1.737 WHIP in two starts against the Diamondbacks this year (12 2/3 innings). Center fielder Ketel Marte and shortstop Nick Ahmed are 13-for-28 (.464) combined against the Venezuelan. Third baseman Eduardo Escobar, who has a .462 average in his last seven games, has four hits off Senzatela in 12 prior at-bats.
These bullpens will only throw gasoline on the fire. Arizona relievers have pitched to a 7.79 ERA in the last seven days (26th), while Colorado's relief corps have produced a 7.36 ERA in the same span (25th).
Saturday, 10:10 p.m. ET, FS1
The Rockies' Jon Gray (9-5, 3.84 ERA) has the edge over the Diamondbacks' Robbie Ray (5-6, 4.10 ERA) in Saturday's late-night affair.Gray has allowed just three earned runs in two outings against Arizona this year (11 1/3 innings). He's won four straight starts and had a 2.65 ERA in June.
The D-backs have lost seven of the last nine games started by Ray, who pitched to a 5.00 ERA in June (six starts). Ray served up nine home runs last month, which spells trouble against a Colorado lineup that's seventh in OPS against lefties this season (.805). In his last six starts against the Rockies (32 innings), he has a 5.91 ERA.
Sunday, 4:10 p.m. ET
The Diamondbacks may turn to a spot starter Sunday after they placed Taylor Clarke (2-3, 6.21 ERA) on the IL with back inflammation. Regardless of who takes the hill for them in the series finale, Arizona's offense will likely struggle against Colorado's German Marquez (8-3, 4.38 ERA).Marquez's home/road splits contrast wildly, as he has a 3.06 ERA on the road compared to his 5.73 ERA at Coors Field. His opponent batting average in away games is just .201, compared to .315 in Denver. Marquez has also done well to avoid giving up the long ball at Chase Field, where he has allowed just two home runs in his last 34 1/3 innings there (1-1, 3.67 ERA in that span).
Find all the MLB matchups at props for this weekend at BetAmerica!
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