Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks Betting Preview
The Colorado Rockies will try to make it two in a row as they continue their four-game weekend series at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies picked up a 4-3 win in the series opener thanks to a tie-breaking double by Randal Grichuk in the top of the 9th inning, snapping a three-game losing streak for the visitors.
Arizona lost a game late for the second straight night after allowing five runs over the 8th and 9th inning in Wednesday’s 7-5 loss to the Giants. Overall the Diamondbacks have still had some success against Colorado – especially at home – which is a big reason they are -172 favorites on Friday night.
Rockies Trying to Get Right at Chase Field
Colorado did take two of three from the Diamondbacks last weekend, but they were expected to be in trouble at Chase Field, where they are 5-12 in their previous 17 visits. Thursday’s win gets the Rockies closer to at least splitting in a place where they have lost five straight series.
The 4-3 win in the series opener wasn’t an offensive explosion by any means, but Colorado did belt out ten hits. That production is also a good sign for a team that managed just six total runs in getting swept over three games by the Dodgers this week.
The Rockies’ pitching staff had a fairly solid series against Los Angeles, allowing 12 total runs which isn’t bad against that offense. Austin Gomber continued the trend with three ER over 5.0 IP on Thursday, something Chad Kuhl (5-5, 3.83 ERA) will try to keep going in game two.
Kuhl makes his second straight start vs. the Diamondbacks, giving up five ER over 5.0 IP, but that was also at Coors Field. Kuhl was also coming off a complete game shutout of the Dodgers in his previous start, so he should be better here.
Late Inning Slumps Continue
Arizona looked good in taking the first two games in their series with the Giants this week, but late-inning implosions have cost them a chance at a four-game win streak. The Diamondbacks need to close things out in the 8th and 9th on Friday night, if anything, just to get their confidence back.
Zac Gallen (4-2, 3.40 ERA) goes for the second straight time against Colorado in the Gallen vs. Kuhl pitching rematch that was a 6-5 Rockies win on Sunday. The Arizona starter pitched well until allowing a three-run HR from C.J. Cron in the 6th – who would repeat that in the 8th to account for all six of Colorado’s runs.
Rockies vs Diamondbacks Pick and Prediction
Arizona has to be a bit frustrated after losing two games late, and they’ve usually put on some solid performances against the Rockies at Chase Field. That being said, the -172 price tag seems a bit on the high side, especially after opening at -142, which was much more reasonable.
All four games between these two teams at Chase Field this season have gone under the total. Kuhl and Gallen will be much better away from Coors Field, which is why the total is the play.
Pick: Under 9 (-120)
