We are back at it on this great Saturday. Really enjoy breaking down these games. We hope that you are able to check them out at some point before the first pitch. Another full slate is on deck, headlined by the Dodgers and Padres for round two. However, my attention will be elsewhere for betting purposes. Read on to find out about today’s Diamond Picks.
Betting Odds provided by Jazz Sportsbook. Please gamble responsibly.
Season Record: 9-2
Philadelphia Phillies at Colorado Rockies (8:10 EDT)
We have two teams that are about where we would expect them to be in terms of wins and loses squaring off at Coors Field Saturday night. The Phillies are flitting around the .500 mark, while the Rockies are losing a lot and are at the bottom of the West Division. Anything can happen at Coors Field, and runs can pile up but hammering the Phillies here is the play.
Aaron Nola has looked great over his first four starts this season. He will head into this one with a 2.19 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. His last appearances against the Rockies came in 2019 where he fanned 21 batters over 11.2 innings. Nola will have to pay particular attention to a couple of bats that could cause problems. All-star outfielder Charlie Blackmon is 7-for-13 with a tater off of the Phillies ace, Lesser-known Yonathan Daza has been one of the few bright spots for Colorado this season, he is hitting .357 over 14 games heading into Friday’s action.
The Rockies will send righty Antonio Senzatela to the bump. He is 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in the early going. To nobody’s surprise, the bullpen is also a sore spot for this club, the relief core owns a 5.43 ERA. Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper have fared well at Coors. Since the 2017 season, Hoskins is hitting .273 over 32 at-bats, while Harper is at .333 over 18 at-bats. Harper is particularly heating up most recently. Over his last five games prior to Friday’s games, he is 11-for-17 with two homers and two doubles.
Diamond Pick: Philadelphia(-205)
Miami Marlins at San Francisco Giants (9:05 EDT)
Two teams that don’t score a lot of runs are next on the betting board. Miami owns a 22nd ranked .671 OPS, and has averaged just 4.09 runs per game. They will have their hands full against right-handed starter Kevin Gausman. Gausman carries a 2.45 ERA with a 1 01 WHIP. Current Marlins have gone just 10-for-54(.185) in past meetings.
The Giants are thriving at home, 6-1, but are averaging a measly 3.67 runs per contest while hitting. 216. Surprisingly they have hit a fifth-best 26 homers. They will face off against another one of the Fish’s good starting pitchers, Pablo Lopez. Lopez enters this one with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. The current Giants lineup has had decent success off of Lopez, 11-for-38 (.289), .789 OPS.
Miami will be somewhat shorthanded as some mainstays in the lineup will be out of the lineup. Brian Anderson, Starling Marte, and Jorge Alfaro will all sit out as they nurse various injuries. It will tough going for the Marlins as Kevin Gausman continues to cement himself as a true ace. Since last season he has perfected his splitter. Last season opposing hitters put up a .097 average against the pitch. Gausman ended up striking out 79 batters over 59.2 innings during the shortened season.
Diamond Pick: San Francisco(-155)
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