The Dodgers are trying to avoid complacency as they begin a three-game NL West rivalry series with the Rockies in Denver Monday night. Los Angeles owns a massive lead in its division and a big lead in the National League standings, while Colorado plays in danger of falling out of the playoff picture. How are we playing this game with our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Monday’s MLB betting odds opened LA at around -155 over Colorado, with an over/under of 12.5 runs. Early betting action then dropped that line 20 cents, to about -135.
The Dodgers could also be found getting around +105 giving the run and a half on the MLB run line.
Dodgers vs. Rockies Set-Up
Los Angeles just took two of three games in Washington over the weekend, missing out on the sweep by losing Sunday’s series finale 11-4. Just before that, the Dodgers got swept two games by the Angels, but just before that they swept three games from Miami. So LA is 2-1 over its last three series and 5-3 over its last eight games.
At 69-38 overall Los Angeles leads the NL West by 14.5 games over second-place San Francisco, and it’s 6.5 games up on Atlanta in the battle for the best record in the National League.
Colorado, meanwhile, just lost two of three games at Cincinnati over the weekend, losing Sunday’s series rubber match 3-2. In the previous series to that, the Rockies dropped three of four to the Nationals, and just before that they lost two of three at the Yankees. Going back a bit further Colorado is 0-4 over its last four series and 3-11 over its last 14 games.
At 49-57 overall the Rockies trail the Dodgers by a distant 19.5 games in the NL West, and they’re 7.5 games behind the Cubs, Cardinals, and Nationals, who are all tied for the lead in the NL wild-card race.
LA leads the season series with Colorado eight games to two.
Monday’s Starting Arms
Gray, by our strict standards, is 10/21 on quality starts this season but only one for his last four. Last Wednesday he held Washington to one run and two hits through four innings, although he also walked five guys, then left the game with a sore calf. The Rockies eventually lost that one 3-2. And over his last four starts, he’s allowed 12 runs and 25 hits, including four home runs, through 21 1/3 innings.
Colorado is 12-9 with Gray this season, but only 1-3 over his last four starts.
In two starts this season against Los Angeles Gray allowed eight runs – seven earned – and 15 hits through 12 2/3 innings. The Rockies split those two games.
Maeda is just 6/20 on quality starts this year, and zero for his last three. Those numbers, however, are a bit misleading, thanks in part to a short leash. Last Tuesday he gave up three runs and four hits through 4 1/3 innings of a 5-4 Dodgers loss to the Angels. But over his last eight appearances, he’s allowed 15 ER and 25 hits through 37 innings.
LA is 10-10 with Maeda this season, and while it’s only 1-3 over his last four starts, that’s not all his fault.
Over three starts already this season against Colorado Maeda gave up just five runs and 14 hits through 16 1/3 innings. The Dodgers won all three of those games.
Monday’s Batting Splits
Los Angeles is batting .265/.348/.483 against right-handed pitching this season. Numbers like those help this lineup rank among the top five in the Majors in this split.
Colorado is batting .266/.324/.449 against RH pitching this season.
The Bullpens
The Dodgers bullpen owns a 4.09 ERA this season and a 1.21WHIP while allowing a .698 OPS. So this unit ranks among the half-dozen bullpens in Baseball.
The Rockies pen owns a 5.08 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP while allowing a .783 OPS.
Totals Report
- Overs are 53-49 in Dodgers games this season.
- Overs are 54-48 in Rockies games this season.Overs are 31-19 in games played at Coors Field this season, despite totals regularly posted at 12 runs and above.
- Overs are 6-3 in Dodgers-Rockies games this season, 5-2 in the games played in Denver.
- Unders are a combined 24-14 with Gray and Maeda this season.
- Get more details: Dodgers at Rockies MLB Match-up Stats
