Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies Betting Pick

Monday night features a matchup of the top and bottom NL West teams when the Los Angeles Dodgers (69-38) travel to Coors Field to take on the Colorado Rockies (49-57). For the Dodgers, they have a very comfortable lead in the NL West as they are up by 14.5 games on the second-place Giants. For the Rockies, they have fallen to 19.5 games back and 7.5 games back of the second Wild Card spot. As the trade deadline approaches on Wednesday, it is very possible that the Dodgers will look to buy while the Rockies consider selling.

The matchup for Monday’s game features Kenta Maeda (7-7, 3.81 ERA) going for the Dodgers against the Rockies’ Jon Gray (9-7, 4.05 ERA). First pitch for this contest is scheduled for 8:40 pm ET.

The moneyline for this game features the Los Angeles Dodgers at -135 while the Colorado Rockies come in at +125. The over/under on runs scored is set at 12.5.

By The Numbers

On the offensive side, these have been two of the best in the majors this season. The Dodgers rank fourth overall in runs scored, averaging 5.43 per game (5.50 on the road). For the Rockies, they come in fifth, averaging 5.39 runs per game (6.64 at home).

On the pitching side, it is night and day, though. The Dodgers rank first in the majors in earned run average with a 3.35 staff ERA (4.14 on the road). The Rockies plummet to 29th with a 5.48 ERA (6.75 at home).

When you put it all together, the Dodgers come out way ahead in terms of run differential. They rank first in the majors with a run differential of +171, while the Rockies rank 20th with a run differential of -41.

Dodgers Look To Keep Rolling

Despite losing Sunday’s contest to the Washington Nationals, the Dodgers still won two of three over the weekend and continue to be MLB’s best team in terms of record. Trying to keep it going on Monday will be righty Kenta Maeda. On the season, he is 7-7 in 20 starts (21 games total) with a 3.81 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and opponents are hitting just .199 against him.

In 108 2/3 innings, Maeda has allowed 79 hits, 46 earned runs, 17 home runs and has struck out 113 versus 36 walks. In his last outing, a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, Maeda went just 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, two walks, and three earned runs while striking out seven. He will look for better on Monday.

On the offensive side, the Dodgers continue to roll behind Cody Bellinger. On the season, Bellinger is hitting a ridiculous .327/.428/.670 with 34 home runs, 79 runs batted in, and 83 runs scored. He has struck out (67) just two more times than he has walked (65). He has also hit really well against Jon Gray in his career. In 14 at-bats, he is hitting .643 with four runs batted in.

In fact, several Dodgers have hit well when facing Gray. Max Muncy (two home runs, six runs batted in), Joc Pederson (two home runs), A.J. Pollock (.385 average, three runs batted in), Corey Seager (.375 average, home run), Justin Turner (.320 average in 25 at-bats), and Alex Verdugo (.500 average, home run) have all fared well against the righty.

Rockies Looking For Positives

Having fallen out of contention, the Rockies are trying to find positives to hold onto heading into next season. There have been some rumors of possibly making Charlie Blackmon available at the deadline, but ultimately, their offensive core is solid. This season Blackmon (.319/.367/.591 with 21 home runs and 62 RBI), Nolan Arenado (.302/.367/.533 with 22 home runs and 77 RBI), David Dahl (.303/.355/.518 with 14 home runs and 58 RBI) and Trevor Story (.283/.346/.546 with 22 home runs and 58 RBI) have all excelled. Again, the runs have never been a huge issue; it is getting the pitching to support them, particularly when playing in the hitter-friendly Coors Field, that has been the difficult task.

Trying to do his part on Monday will be the right-hander Gray. On the season, Gray is 9-7 in 21 starts (22 total games) with a 4.05 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and opponents are hitting .264 against him. In 124 1/3 innings, he has allowed 124 hits, 56 earned runs, 17 home runs and has struck out 128 versus 50 walks.

Despite the Coors Field effect, Gray has pitched pretty well at home. In 10 games, he is 4-2 with a 3.90 ERA. Still, it will be tough pitching in Coors against a vaunted lineup like the Dodgers.

Rockies Surprise In Opener

I don’t look at the Rockies the way I look at most last-place teams. Their offense is stacked, at least through the heart of it, and they can put runs up in a hurry. Throw on top of that the fact that Gray has pitched well at Coors, and they could be a tough team to beat for a Dodgers club that is coming off of an 11-4 loss on Sunday.

While Kenta Maeda has pitched very well this season, there is something just different about pitching in that park (look at the pitching splits for the Rockies at home versus on the road). I think the Rockies could surprise some people in the opener and the moneyline is beneficial as the underdogs at +125. For my money, I am taking Colorado.