Colorado Rockies vs Arizona Diamondbacks Picks and Predictions September 18th 2024

Wednesday’s matchup between the Diamondbacks and Rockies is set to get started at 3:10 PM ET from Coors Field in Denver. The Rockies are currently on a two-game winning streak and are 59-93 overall, while the Diamondbacks are 83-68 and have Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound.

Arizona is the favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -154 compared to the Rockies at +130. Today’s over/under line is 11 runs, and the game will be televised on Bally Sports Arizona and AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.

Arizona vs. Colorado Key Information

• Teams: Diamondbacks at Rockies
• Where: Coors Field Denver
• Date: Wednesday, September 18th
• Betting Odds ARI -154 | COL +130 O/U 11

The Diamondbacks Can Win If…

Eduardo Rodriguez gets the start for the Diamondbacks today as he faces off against the Rockies on the road. So far this season, he has made seven starts and has a record of 2-3 with an ERA of 5.50. Looking at his overall numbers, Rodriguez has a WHIP of 1.54 and opponents are batting .282 off him this season. In his last outing, Rodriguez took the loss, giving up two earned runs in five innings of work. He finished with seven strikeouts in that outing. Before that, he had given up at least three earned runs in three straight starts.

Arizona comes into the game as the league’s top-scoring offense, averaging 5.5 runs per game. Not only are they the best home run hitting team in the league, but they also have the league’s top on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. The Diamondbacks are also near the top of the league in batting average and have the 4th best isolated power figure in the league.

Leading the Diamondbacks in home runs is Ketel Marte, who is batting .292 for the season and has gone deep 32 times. Eugenio Suarez is also a big power threat in the lineup, as he has 28 homers and a team-leading 96 RBIs. Suarez has been hot of late, hitting .364 over his last six games, including two homers.

• The Diamondbacks are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Diamondbacks are 0-5 vs. the run line.
• Arizona has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Diamondbacks have an average of 4.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Diamondbacks are 5-5
• Looking back across the Diamondbacks last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Arizona has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Diamondbacks have averaged 4.8 runs per game on offense

The Rockies Can Win If…

Colorado is sending left-hander Austin Gomber to the mound today vs. the Diamondbacks. He has made 28 starts this season and has a record of 5-10 with an ERA of 4.44. Gomber’s WHIP for the season is 1.28, and he has turned in 12 quality starts. Gomber’s most recent outing came against the Cubs, where he went six innings, giving up two earned runs, and finished with a no-decision. Before that, he had won two straight starts. Gomber has been much better on the road, coming in with an ERA of 5.69 compared to 4.78 at home.

So far this season, the Rockies have been one of the league’s best home run-hitting teams, and they are also batting a collective .242, which is 12th in the MLB. However, they are averaging just 4.2 runs per game, which is 20th in the league. One thing to keep an eye on is that the Rockies are 3rd in the league in home runs, but are just 27th in runs per game on the road.

Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle have been the Rockies’ top two hitters this season, with Tovar leading the team with 25 homers and Doyle right behind him at 22. Tovar has gone deep three times in his last nine games and has gone 9/37 over that stretch. Michael Toglia is also near the top of the team’s home run leaderboard, but he is batting just .218 this season.

• The Rockies are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Rockies are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Colorado has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Rockies have an average of 5.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Rockies are 4-6
• Looking back across the Rockies last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Colorado has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Rockies have averaged 2.5 runs per game on offense

Diamondbacks Fight to Avoid Sweep Against Rockies with Playoff Hopes on the Line

The Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in a must-win situation as they face the Colorado Rockies in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon, with their postseason hopes hanging in the balance. After dropping the first two games in Denver, the Diamondbacks have seen their grip on a National League wild-card spot loosen. Now tied with the New York Mets (83-68) for the second wild-card position, both teams sit just two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves (81-70), making Wednesday’s matchup crucial for Arizona’s playoff ambitions.

Diamondbacks Look to Bounce Back

Arizona’s offense, which had been firing on all cylinders with 52 runs in the six games prior to the series, has been stifled in Denver, managing just two runs in each of the first two losses against the Rockies. Tuesday night’s 8-2 defeat followed a narrow 2-1 loss in the series opener.

Manager Torey Lovullo remains confident in his team’s ability to turn things around but has emphasized the need for more patience at the plate.
“I want more patient approaches. I think that’s what we’re so good at,” Lovullo said, urging his hitters to stay disciplined in a high-stakes game.

Eduardo Rodriguez Takes the Mound

The Diamondbacks will turn to left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (2-3, 5.50 ERA) to help stop the skid and avoid a series sweep. Rodriguez, who missed a significant portion of the season with a left shoulder strain, has struggled in recent outings, dropping his last three starts. In his most recent appearance against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, Rodriguez gave up two runs on five hits over five innings, but his seven walks highlighted control issues that he will need to address.

Rodriguez holds a mixed track record against the Rockies, posting a 1-0 record with a 6.19 ERA in three career starts. His last outing against Colorado came on August 13, where he allowed three runs in five innings.

Rockies Counter with Austin Gomber

The Rockies, riding the momentum of this series, will look to complete the sweep with left-hander Austin Gomber (5-10, 4.44 ERA) taking the mound. Gomber has been in strong form this month, recording a 1.93 ERA over his two September starts. He has pitched at least six innings in each of his last six outings, including a standout performance against the Atlanta Braves on September 5, where he went eight innings to match a career high.

“Gomber’s style is not like most,” said Rockies manager Bud Black. “But Gomber’s stuff plays. It’s a good hook, it’s a tight slider, and it’s a good changeup.”

In 13 career appearances (nine starts) against Arizona, Gomber has posted a 3-0 record with a 5.04 ERA. He last faced the Diamondbacks on August 13, allowing just two runs over six innings in a no-decision.

Rockies Riding Momentum

While the Rockies are out of playoff contention, they’ve found inspiration in their recent play, highlighted by Tuesday’s victory, which gave manager Bud Black his 535th win, breaking the franchise record for most wins as a Rockies manager. Despite being 58-93 on the season, Colorado has proven to be a tough opponent for Arizona in this series, playing the spoiler role as the Diamondbacks fight for a postseason berth.

High Stakes for the Diamondbacks

For the Diamondbacks, this game carries immense importance as they seek to avoid a sweep and keep pace in the wild-card race. With just two weeks left in the regular season and teams like the Braves breathing down their necks, Arizona cannot afford another slip-up. A strong outing from Rodriguez, coupled with offensive production, will be key in their efforts to salvage the final game and maintain their playoff positioning.

As the final game of this pivotal series approaches, all eyes will be on whether Arizona can regroup and bounce back, or if Colorado will deal a significant blow to their postseason dreams.

The Lean

Today’s Diamondbacks and Rockies matchup should feature plenty of offense, as this game is projected to have the 4th most runs in today’s slate and the 4th most hits. Our lean would be towards taking the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Diamondbacks to come out on top. Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez has the 4th best strikeout projection among today’s starters, while Austin Gomber has the worst chance to pick up a win.