Atlanta Braves vs Colorado Rockies Picks and Predictions September 4th 2024

Rockies’ Bradley Blalock returns home to face Braves

Wednesday’s Rockies vs. Braves matchup has a first pitch set for 7:20 PM ET from Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. The Braves are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -284 compared to the Rockies at +233. The over/under line is currently 8.5 runs.

Colorado comes in with a record of 51-88, while the Braves are 75-63 overall. Atlanta will be starting Charlie Morton, while the Rockies are sending Bradley Blalock to the mound. The Rockies are currently on a two-game losing streak, and they are 5th in the NL West, while the Braves are 2nd in the NL East.

Colorado vs. Atlanta Key Information

• Teams: Rockies at Braves
• Where: Truist Park Atlanta
• Date: Wednesday, September 4th
• Betting Odds ATL -284 | COL +233 O/U 8.5

The Rockies Can Win If…

Bradley Blalock is on the mound for the Rockies as they take on the Braves. Blalock is coming off a loss in his last start, where he gave up 6 earned runs in 4 innings of work. However, he did pick up a win in his first start of the season, and has 5 strikeouts in each of his first two starts.

So far this season, the Rockies offense is averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 19th in the MLB. However, they have been a better offensive team at home, averaging 5 runs per game. As a team, the Rockies are batting .244, which is 12th in the league. They also have the 2nd best BABIP in the league and have the 13th best slugging percentage in the league.

Over his last seven games, Brendan Rodgers has gone 10/28 with three homers. For the season, he is hitting .270. The Rockies will be looking for Michael Toglia to get going, as he is batting just .217 this season. Toglia and Ezequiel Tovar are tied for 2nd on the team with 21 homers.

• The Rockies are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Rockies are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• Colorado has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Rockies have an average of 3.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Rockies are 2-8
• Looking back across the Rockies last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Colorado has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Rockies have averaged 3.0 runs per game on offense

The Braves Can Win If…

Charlie Morton gets the start for the Braves today and has a record of 7-7 with an ERA of 4.26. So far this season, he has made 25 starts, and opponents are batting .243 off the right-hander. Morton’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.31. In his last outing, Morton finished with a no-decision, giving up three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work. He did give up a homer in that outing. Before that, he had given up just one earned run in three straight outings. Morton has made 10 quality starts this year and is averaging 9.17 strikeouts per nine innings.

Marcell Ozuna has been the Braves’ top hitter this season, batting .306 with 37 home runs and 98 RBIs. His 98 RBIs are good for 5th in the league. Matt Olson is 2nd on the team with 25 homers but is batting just .233 for the season. However, he has been hot of late, going 11/33 in his last 8 games with three homers.

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 this season, averaging 4.6 runs per game. As a team, they are 4th in home runs and have the 7th best isolated power mark in the league.

• The Braves are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Braves are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Atlanta has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Braves have an average of 3.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Braves are 6-4
• Looking back across the Braves last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Atlanta has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Braves have averaged 5.2 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Today’s Rockies and Braves matchup is projected to be the 5th lowest-scoring game of the day, but with the line sitting at 8.5 runs, we are still leaning towards taking the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we like the Rockies to come out on top. These teams are projected to have the 10th most hits, and 4th fewest combined strikeouts. Looking at today’s starters, Charlie Morton is our 2nd highest projected starter in terms of strikeouts.

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The contrast between youth and experience will be on full display Wednesday night when the Colorado Rockies take on the Atlanta Braves in the second game of their three-game series. The Rockies will send 23-year-old rookie Bradley Blalock to the mound to face 40-year-old veteran Charlie Morton of the Braves, creating an intriguing pitching matchup.

Pitching Matchup: Bradley Blalock vs. Charlie Morton

Bradley Blalock (Colorado Rockies)

Bradley Blalock, the Rockies’ rookie right-hander, will make his fifth start of the season as he continues to navigate the challenges of Major League Baseball. The 23-year-old is still working to establish himself, with a current 1-1 record and a 4.98 ERA. His performance has been uneven—he’s shown flashes of potential but also struggled with consistency.

Blalock’s last outing was rough, giving up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits over just four innings in a 12-8 loss to the Miami Marlins. However, before that, he had shown promise, allowing just six runs over 16 2/3 innings in his previous three starts, boasting a 3.25 ERA over that span.

Homecoming Story: Blalock’s appearance is significant for another reason—it’s a homecoming for the Georgia native. The young pitcher attended Grayson High School, located in the suburbs of Atlanta, making this a special opportunity to showcase his talents in front of family and friends.

Despite the ups and downs, Rockies manager Bud Black remains confident in Blalock’s potential. “He’s got the weapons,” Black said. “He’s got a good fastball, and his curve and slider are becoming more consistent.”

Blalock is also looking to solidify his place as a future asset for the Rockies, who are prioritizing player development as they look ahead to future seasons.

Charlie Morton (Atlanta Braves)

On the other side of the mound is Charlie Morton, a seasoned veteran whose experience and reliability are well-known across the league. Morton enters Wednesday’s game with a 7-7 record and a 4.26 ERA in what will be his 378th career start. The right-hander has been a consistent presence in the Braves’ rotation, making at least 25 starts in seven consecutive seasons (excluding the shortened 2020 campaign).

Morton’s ability to pitch deep into games has been a hallmark of his career. He’s gone at least five innings in 22 of his 25 starts this season, showing durability and veteran savvy. In his most recent outing against the Philadelphia Phillies, Morton worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out seven. Though the Braves ended up losing 5-4 after failing to protect a four-run lead, Morton once again demonstrated his ability to grind through tough situations.

“He was bending, but he wasn’t breaking,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “It was kind of deep counts and making pitches when he needed to. We were flirting with disaster there the whole game, but he kept making enough pitches to get himself out of it.”

Success Against Colorado: Morton has plenty of experience facing the Rockies, with a 6-2 record and a 3.81 ERA in 14 career starts against Colorado. Although he didn’t face them during the Braves’ recent trip to Denver, his past success against the Rockies adds another layer of intrigue to this matchup.

Team Context and Playoff Implications

Atlanta Braves

The Braves (75-63) are in the thick of the National League playoff race, holding a half-game lead over the New York Mets for the final Wild Card spot. Every game is critical as Atlanta looks to secure a postseason berth, making this series against Colorado an important one. The Braves opened the series with a 3-0 win on Tuesday, tying the season series against the Rockies at two games apiece.

Morton’s consistency and ability to navigate difficult lineups will be essential as the Braves aim to build momentum and strengthen their hold on a playoff position. In addition, Atlanta’s bullpen, anchored by closer Raisel Iglesias, has been a major asset. Iglesias was recently named NL Reliever of the Month for August after a dominant stretch in which he didn’t allow a single run in 13 1/3 innings, with 14 strikeouts and six saves.

Colorado Rockies

For the Rockies (51-88), playoff hopes have long faded, and the focus has shifted to player development and building for the future. This gives pitchers like Blalock valuable experience against high-level competition. While Blalock’s homecoming is a storyline, the Rockies will be looking at how he handles the pressure and how he bounces back from a difficult outing.

The Rockies are also aiming to find consistency in their lineup. Brenton Doyle, one of Colorado’s promising young hitters, had his seven-game hitting streak snapped in the series opener, but he managed to extend his on-base streak to eight games with a walk.

What’s at Stake

• For the Braves: With the playoff race tightening, Atlanta needs every win they can get to stay ahead of the Mets. Morton’s experience gives the Braves a clear advantage, but they must capitalize on that and continue to rely on their strong bullpen to secure victories.
• For the Rockies: While wins aren’t as critical, the Rockies need to see growth from their young talent like Blalock. Every outing he makes helps Colorado assess his potential role in the rotation moving forward.

Key Players to Watch

• Bradley Blalock: Can the rookie bounce back from a tough start and deliver a strong performance in front of his hometown crowd? How he handles the Braves’ lineup will be key to his development.
• Charlie Morton: The veteran’s ability to grind through challenging innings has been a key to his success. Watch for how he manages Colorado’s hitters, especially as the Braves fight for every win in the Wild Card race.
• Raisel Iglesias: Coming off his award-winning month, Iglesias continues to be a dominant force in the bullpen. If the game is close, expect him to play a pivotal role in closing things out.

Conclusion

This matchup between the Rockies’ young prospect Bradley Blalock and the Braves’ experienced veteran Charlie Morton represents more than just another game. It highlights the different trajectories of these two teams—one focused on building for the future and the other striving to clinch a playoff spot. As Atlanta pushes toward October and Colorado invests in its future, the contrasting fortunes of these two clubs are reflected in the arms they send to the mound.