After a small Thursday slate of MLB action, today is a jam-packed 14-game slate. While most people would probably brush off a game between the bottom-feeder Rockies and Nationals, we look at this game as a great opportunity to find some value. Let’s take a look at this NL showdown.
Rockies vs. Nationals Betting Pick: Preview
Here are the odds at the time of posting for game two between the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals:
Thursday, April 6 MLB Betting Notes, Courtesy of DraftKings
Moneyline: Colorado Rockies -120 vs. Washington Nationals -100
Runline: Rockies -1.5 +145 / Nationals +1.5 -170
Total: 11.5 Runs (Over +100/ Under -120)
Game Time: 8:40 pm ET / 5:40 pm PT
Where: Coors Field in Denver, CO
Weather: 62 degrees
Rockies vs. Nationals: Analysis
Colorado beat Washington 1-0 in game one of this series in what turned out to be a pitcher’s duel no one expected. Coors Field normally equals runs galore, especially with lower-level pitchers on the mound, but that was not the case last night.
MacKenzie Gore, the young lefty, will take the mound for the Nationals. Righty Jose Urena will take the bump for the Rockies at home, where he has struggled.
Will we see another pitcher’s duel tonight?
Rockies vs. Nationals: Rockies Preview
The Rockies have little to no expectations this season, but they are off to a solid start to the year. They won their first two games of the season against the Padres, but they dropped four straight before their 1-0 win last night. Coming into the season, you’d expect the Rockies to struggle more on the mound than at the plate, but the opposite has been true to start the year. The Rockies were not expected to compete this season, but that doesn’t mean they cannot try.
Jose Urena will make the start for the Rockies tonight against the Nationals at home. Urena’s seasoned debut against the Padres did not go as planned. Urena allowed four runs on five hits and issued four walks in 2.1 innings of work. While that was concerning, what is certainly also noteworthy is how Urena pitched at Coors Field last season.
The Rockies lineup has not hit lefties well to start the season. Colorado has a 30.8% K rate against lefties so far. Since this is the 2nd game for this Rockies team at Coors Field this season, of course, they can have the offensive explosion they have been waiting for. The issue is this lineup is boom or bust, and they have not strung together hits well whatsoever. The heart of the Rockies lineup is doing well, but they need more production from almost all of their bats.
Rockies vs. Nationals: Nationals Preview
The Nationals are living up to their preseason expectations – the expectations that they would be one of the worst teams in baseball. The Nationals have just one win, and that win was the last time MacKenzie pitched against the Braves. This season was never going to be about the National’s win/loss record, it was always going to be about the progression of their young players. It is way too early to make any claims about Washington’s young guys, but so far, MacKenzie Gore seems like the real deal.
Gore, a lefty, pitched great against the Braves en route to Washington’s only win of the season so far. Gore allowed one run on three hits with four walks and six strikeouts. As we mentioned earlier, the Rockies have struggled against left-handed pitching, so Gore has an opportunity to follow up on his impressive season debut.
The Nationals’ lineup really struggles, but they do a good job of avoiding striking out. On the season, the Nationals have a 44 wRC+ and a -0.1 WAR, both very uninspiring numbers. Again, there is no surprise that this is the case, but finding anything positive for the Nationals’ offense is a tall task.
Rockies vs. Nationals: Prediction
I am a big fan of MacKenzie Gore, and while this could be a breakout game for the Rockies’ offense, I am fading the home team. Colorado has a -32 wrc+ this season and a -0.5 WAR. Of course, the Rockies have had just one game to bolster their offensive stats due to the advantage they get from playing at higher altitudes, but this team is also just bad. Urena has proven time and time again that he can’t pitch at Coors Field. While it’s certainly possible MacKenzie can’t either, there’s only one way to find out.
Prediction: Nationals ML +100