jimmythegreek
The opening odds start here
Colorado/Anaheim over 4.5 -110:
It has become a fight to the finish when it comes to the NL West Division race as Colorado (71-60) heads into tonight’s action losers of 2 straight and trailing first place Arizona by a single game. Last night in Anaheim the Angels (64-68) played the role of spoiler thanks to a 5 run 8th inning coming from behind to beat the Rockies 10-7. Mike Trout blasted his 31st HR of the season going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. Shohei Otani blasted his 15th of the season to deep left center field capping off a 2 for 5 night with 3 RBI. However it was the Colorado defense that let the Rockies down in the 8th inning as a Trevor Story throwing error scored 2 runs and an Eric Young single drove in another 2 leaving Adam Ottavino with the loss falling to 6-3 overall. Ottavino allowed 3 runs on 4 hits in just 2/3 of an inning. Jim Johnson won in relief for the halos while Noe Ramirez pitched a perfect 9th inning for his first save. DJ Lemahieu, who went 3 for 5, hit a grand slam in a 4 run top half of the frame to help the Rocks regain the lead at 7-5, but the bullpen could not hold it.
It appears that Ramirez (4-4 4.69) will make his first start of the season in a bullpen game for the Angels. The 28 year old 4 year right hander will be making his 61st overall appearance this evening. Don’t expect manager Mike Scioscia to use Ramirez much in this situation, but he will have plenty more opportunities to better his break even overall mark. He faces a Rockies lineup batting just .256 overall but averaging 4.7 runs per contest sitting 4th in the NL with 164 HR. Nolan Arenado (.308 31 91) leads the Rockies in club hitting, power and production and is tied for second with Manny Machado in HR and third in the NL in RBI. Story (.289 26 85) is just 2 for his last 16 (.125) but is well on pace to set career highs. Charlie Blackmon (.276 23 56) has always been a beast at the plate, and before last night hit safely in 5 straight (.364) despite tailing off quite a bit in the second half of his career targets. LeMaiheu (.283 12 46) has hit safely in 3 straight (.583), all multi-hit contests. Ian Desmond (.232 20 74) is just 3 for his last 18 (.167) and is stuck with a .222 clip thus far in the second half of the season. Carlos Gonzalez (.294 14 54) is starting to show flashes of his peak seasons in 2010 and 2016 bringing in to tonight’s action a 5 game hitting streak (.435).
Colorado counters with Kyle Freeland (11-7 2.96) who has been particularly sharp as of late despite falling short of a win credit due to a lack of run support from quality starts. In a game the Rockies won 4-3 in his last start, the 25 year old sophomore southpaw gave up just 2 runs on 7 hits in 6 1/3 innings with a walk and 7 strikeouts. Freeland has been especially dominating in first halves of games, but tonight faces an Angels lineup batting .247 overall also averaging 4.7 runs per contest and 5th in the AL with 175 HR. Trout (.313 31 62) has one more walk (102) than strikeouts (101), and might be in the MVP conversation if his team were in contention and his HR’s came more timely and productively. Still, the 27 year old 8 year veteran is 8 for 22 over his last 5 games (.364) and could still easily end up with 40 HR despite battling various injuries this season. Andreleton Simmons (.291 8 60) has had a rough second half, and is currently battling a 5 for 28 (.179) slump. Justin Upton (.267 27 74) leads the halos in RBI and has hit safely in 6 of his last 7 (.407). Albert Pujols (.246 19 63) has been showing his age as of late in this, his 18th season in the bigs just 1 for his last 24 (.042). Otani (.276 15 43) might be hard pressed to pitch again this season, but continues to be one of the league’s most versatile players in 2018.
We get a fair price this evening at Angels Stadium, a venue where despite the ball not well known to carry out early in the season, has certainly done so during the later summer months given consistency, not individuality has been more of an issue this season with the offense. The bats finally broke out as of late for the first time in a week scoring more than 4 runs, and while Freeland has been lights out as of late, could face his most challenging lineup tonight. The Rockies are on a mission to return to the postseason for the first time since 2009, and could have set themselves up for a Wednesday rubber game against the Angels hurlers who will be working out of a rotational bullpen this evening. 60% for us thus far this season, looking to improve on it as the postseason nears. Best of luck however you play!
It has become a fight to the finish when it comes to the NL West Division race as Colorado (71-60) heads into tonight’s action losers of 2 straight and trailing first place Arizona by a single game. Last night in Anaheim the Angels (64-68) played the role of spoiler thanks to a 5 run 8th inning coming from behind to beat the Rockies 10-7. Mike Trout blasted his 31st HR of the season going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. Shohei Otani blasted his 15th of the season to deep left center field capping off a 2 for 5 night with 3 RBI. However it was the Colorado defense that let the Rockies down in the 8th inning as a Trevor Story throwing error scored 2 runs and an Eric Young single drove in another 2 leaving Adam Ottavino with the loss falling to 6-3 overall. Ottavino allowed 3 runs on 4 hits in just 2/3 of an inning. Jim Johnson won in relief for the halos while Noe Ramirez pitched a perfect 9th inning for his first save. DJ Lemahieu, who went 3 for 5, hit a grand slam in a 4 run top half of the frame to help the Rocks regain the lead at 7-5, but the bullpen could not hold it.
It appears that Ramirez (4-4 4.69) will make his first start of the season in a bullpen game for the Angels. The 28 year old 4 year right hander will be making his 61st overall appearance this evening. Don’t expect manager Mike Scioscia to use Ramirez much in this situation, but he will have plenty more opportunities to better his break even overall mark. He faces a Rockies lineup batting just .256 overall but averaging 4.7 runs per contest sitting 4th in the NL with 164 HR. Nolan Arenado (.308 31 91) leads the Rockies in club hitting, power and production and is tied for second with Manny Machado in HR and third in the NL in RBI. Story (.289 26 85) is just 2 for his last 16 (.125) but is well on pace to set career highs. Charlie Blackmon (.276 23 56) has always been a beast at the plate, and before last night hit safely in 5 straight (.364) despite tailing off quite a bit in the second half of his career targets. LeMaiheu (.283 12 46) has hit safely in 3 straight (.583), all multi-hit contests. Ian Desmond (.232 20 74) is just 3 for his last 18 (.167) and is stuck with a .222 clip thus far in the second half of the season. Carlos Gonzalez (.294 14 54) is starting to show flashes of his peak seasons in 2010 and 2016 bringing in to tonight’s action a 5 game hitting streak (.435).
Colorado counters with Kyle Freeland (11-7 2.96) who has been particularly sharp as of late despite falling short of a win credit due to a lack of run support from quality starts. In a game the Rockies won 4-3 in his last start, the 25 year old sophomore southpaw gave up just 2 runs on 7 hits in 6 1/3 innings with a walk and 7 strikeouts. Freeland has been especially dominating in first halves of games, but tonight faces an Angels lineup batting .247 overall also averaging 4.7 runs per contest and 5th in the AL with 175 HR. Trout (.313 31 62) has one more walk (102) than strikeouts (101), and might be in the MVP conversation if his team were in contention and his HR’s came more timely and productively. Still, the 27 year old 8 year veteran is 8 for 22 over his last 5 games (.364) and could still easily end up with 40 HR despite battling various injuries this season. Andreleton Simmons (.291 8 60) has had a rough second half, and is currently battling a 5 for 28 (.179) slump. Justin Upton (.267 27 74) leads the halos in RBI and has hit safely in 6 of his last 7 (.407). Albert Pujols (.246 19 63) has been showing his age as of late in this, his 18th season in the bigs just 1 for his last 24 (.042). Otani (.276 15 43) might be hard pressed to pitch again this season, but continues to be one of the league’s most versatile players in 2018.
We get a fair price this evening at Angels Stadium, a venue where despite the ball not well known to carry out early in the season, has certainly done so during the later summer months given consistency, not individuality has been more of an issue this season with the offense. The bats finally broke out as of late for the first time in a week scoring more than 4 runs, and while Freeland has been lights out as of late, could face his most challenging lineup tonight. The Rockies are on a mission to return to the postseason for the first time since 2009, and could have set themselves up for a Wednesday rubber game against the Angels hurlers who will be working out of a rotational bullpen this evening. 60% for us thus far this season, looking to improve on it as the postseason nears. Best of luck however you play!