Atlanta Braves vs Colorado Rockies Picks and Predictions September 3rd 2024

There are 12 MLB games on the schedule for Tuesday, and the Braves are the biggest favorite on the board, with their money line odds sitting at -397. They are hosting the Rockies at Truist Park in Atlanta, and the forecast calls for broken clouds and 85-degree temperatures.

Colorado comes in with a money line payout of +315 and they are starting Kyle Freeland. The under/over line is currently at 7.5 runs, and the Braves will be looking to end a two-game losing streak, as they are 74-63 overall and 2nd in the NL East. The Rockies are 5th in the NL West with a record of 51-87.

Kyle Freeland gets the start for the Rockies today as he faces the Braves on the road. This year, he has made 16 starts and has a record of 4-6 with an ERA of 5.51. Looking at his overall numbers, Freeland has a WHIP of 1.47 and has pitched much better at home, with an ERA of 4.13 compared to 10.94 on the road. Per nine innings, he is averaging 7.09 strikeouts and 2.54 walks. Freeland’s last outing came on August 28th, where he got the win, going six innings and giving up two earned runs. Before that, he had lost two straight starts.

Colorado’s offense is averaging 4.3 runs per game this season, which is 17th in the league. They have been a better offensive team at home, averaging 5 runs per game. As a team, the Rockies are batting .245, which is 11th in the league, and have the 15th most home runs in the MLB. The team’s batting average on balls in play is 2nd in the league, and they are also one of the league’s best at avoiding strikeouts.

Brenton Doyle has been a key part of the Rockies offense this season, leading the team with 66 RBIs and 22 home runs. He is also on a seven-game hitting streak. Ezequiel Tovar and Michael Toglia have also been solid power threats for the Rockies, with Tovar also having 21 homers and Toglia at 21. Tovar comes into the game with a batting average of .270, while Toglia is batting just .220.

Chris Sale gets the start for the Braves today and comes in with a record of 15-3 and an ERA of 2.58. So far this season, he has made 25 starts, and opponents are batting .212 off the left-hander. Sale has made 15 quality starts this year and is averaging 11.54 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, Sale picked up the win, going six innings and giving up one earned run on six hits. He finished with six strikeouts in that outing. Overall, he has allowed just eight homers this season.

Marcell Ozuna has been one of the best hitters in the MLB this season, as his 98 RBIs are 5th in the league, and he is batting .306 with a team-high 37 home runs. Matt Olson has also been a good power threat for the Braves, with 25 homers, but he is batting just .234 for the season. However, Olson has been hot of late, going 11/30 in his last seven games, with three homers and 11 RBIs.

Overall, the Braves are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 16th in the league. They have been a better offensive team on the road, averaging 4.6 runs per game. As a team, the Braves are batting .241, and they have the league’s 4th best home run total.

Braves Fight for Playoff Survival as Rockies Aim to Play Spoiler

The Atlanta Braves are gearing up for a crucial three-game home series against the Colorado Rockies, with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance. As the Braves chase a spot in the postseason, the Rockies are looking to throw a wrench in their plans and play the role of spoiler.

Braves Fighting to Stay in the Playoff Hunt

Atlanta (74-63) has hit a rough patch, losing three out of four games to the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend. This series loss has left the Braves seven games behind the Phillies in the National League East. However, there’s still a silver lining—they hold a one-game lead over the New York Mets for the final NL wild-card spot. With the season winding down, every game is crucial for Atlanta as they push for their seventh consecutive division title.

Braves manager Brian Snitker didn’t hide his frustration after the tough series in Philadelphia. “Honestly, I felt like we could have walked out of [Philadelphia] with three of four,” Snitker said. “We didn’t execute enough.” The Braves’ struggles were on full display in Sunday’s 3-2 loss in 11 innings, where they went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left the bases loaded in the ninth inning.

Despite these setbacks, Atlanta remains laser-focused as they return home to face the Rockies, determined to get back on track.

Chris Sale Takes the Mound for the Braves

The Braves will rely on Cy Young Award hopeful Chris Sale (15-3, 2.58 ERA) to lead them in the series opener. Sale has been a dominant force this season, winning five straight decisions and allowing no more than three runs in any start since June 1. In his last outing against the Minnesota Twins, Sale pitched six strong innings, giving up just one run on six hits while striking out six.

While Sale has been outstanding overall, he has yet to notch a win against the Rockies in his career. In three appearances (one start) against Colorado, he holds a 1.74 ERA but no decisions. This will be his first start against the Rockies this season, and the Braves are counting on him to deliver when it matters most.

Rockies Look to Spoil Braves’ Playoff Push

The Colorado Rockies (51-87) have had a rough season, holding the worst record in the National League. Despite their struggles, the Rockies managed to take two out of three games in their recent series against the Baltimore Orioles. More importantly for the Braves, the Rockies showed they can be a thorn in Atlanta’s side by winning a three-game series against them in early August.

Left-hander Kyle Freeland (4-6, 5.51 ERA) will start for the Rockies. Freeland is coming off a solid performance in his last outing, where he beat the Miami Marlins by allowing two runs over six innings in his 200th career appearance. Since returning from the injured list, Freeland has been a steady presence, posting a 4-3 record with a 3.76 ERA in 12 starts.

However, Freeland’s track record against the Braves is less than stellar. He holds a 1-4 record with a 6.34 ERA in nine career starts against Atlanta. In their last meeting on August 11, Freeland had to leave the game with a blister after allowing three runs in just 3 2/3 innings, failing to factor into the decision.

Colorado’s Rookie Schunk Returns Home

This series also marks a special homecoming for Colorado rookie infielder Aaron Schunk, who hails from the Atlanta area and played college baseball at the University of Georgia. Schunk, who was called up to the majors on June 28, has struggled at the plate, hitting just .175. However, he made a memorable impact in Freeland’s last start, hitting his first—and so far only—career home run.

High Stakes for Atlanta

As the Braves look to solidify their playoff position, they face a Rockies team with nothing to lose. With Chris Sale on the mound, Atlanta hopes to reverse their recent misfortunes and keep their postseason dreams alive. However, the Rockies have shown they can compete with the Braves, making this series a potential stumbling block for Atlanta’s playoff push.

Today’s Rockies and Braves matchup should feature plenty of offense, as this is projected to be the 9th highest-scoring game of today’s slate. 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 Rockies to pick up the win. Between the two starters, we have Chris Sale as our highest projected starter of the day in terms of strikeouts.