Colorado Rockies vs Atlanta Braves Picks and Predictions August 11th 2024

From Coors Field in Denver, we have the Braves and Rockies facing off in an NL matchup. The Braves are 2nd in the NL East with a record of 61-55, while the Rockies are 5th in the NL West at 43-75. Kyle Freeland is starting for the Rockies, and the Braves are sending Spencer Schwellenbach to the mound.

Atlanta is the money line favorite, with the odds sitting at -177 compared to the Rockies at +148. Sunday’s over/under line is at 10.5 runs, and the forecast calls for cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-70s. First pitch is set for 3:10 PM ET.

Atlanta vs. Colorado Key Information

• Teams: Braves at Rockies
• Where: Coors Field Denver
• Date: Sunday, August 11th
• Betting Odds ATL -177 | COL +148 O/U 10.5

Spencer Schwellenbach gets the start for the Braves today as he faces off against the Rockies on the road. So far this season, he has made 11 starts and has a record of 4-5 with an ERA of 4.04. Looking at his overall numbers, Schwellenbach has a WHIP of 1.04 and opponents are batting .229 this season. In his 11 starts, he has turned in six quality starts and is coming off an outing in which he gave up three earned runs in seven innings of work. Schwellenbach didn’t give up a homer in that outing, but before that he had given up a homer in three straight starts.

Marcell Ozuna has been one of the league’s top power threats this season, as his 35 home runs are the 2nd most in the majors. He also comes into the game with a team-high 90 RBIs and is batting .300 for the season. Ozuna has been swinging a hot bat of late, going 6/20 with three homers over his last five games. Matt Olson is 2nd on the Braves with 20 homers but is batting just .230 for the season.

As a team, the Braves are 5th in home runs and are averaging 4.3 runs per game. Their team batting average of .241 is 13th in the league. Currently, they are 17th in scoring and are averaging 4.4 runs per game on the road.

• The Braves are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Braves are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• Atlanta has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Braves have an average of 5.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Braves are 6-4
• Looking back across the Braves last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Atlanta has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Braves have averaged 5.5 runs per game on offense

Kyle Freeland is looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Mets, where he finished with a no-decision. In that start, he went 4 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs, and two home runs. Looking back over his last four starts, Freeland has allowed at least one homer in each outing. His ERA for the season is 5.65, along with a record of 3-4. At home, Freeland is 1-0 with a 2.73 ERA. On the road, he is 2-4 with a 12.12 ERA.

The Rockies offense has been pretty good at home this season, averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is 8th in the league. Overall, they are 18th in the MLB at 4.2 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .243, and their team on-base percentage of .306 is also below the league average. The Rockies have been striking out a lot this season and are just 24th in the league in terms of walks.

Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle have been the Rockies’ top power bats this season, with Tovar having 19 homers and Doyle at 20. Doyle is also the team’s leader in RBIs, with 59. Tovar comes into the game on a five-game hitting streak, going 13/30 in his last eight games. Brendan Rodgers is also on a five-game hitting streak and has gone 13/30 in his last eight games.

• The Rockies are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Rockies are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Colorado has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Rockies have an average of 4.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Rockies are 3-7
• 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 3.2 runs per game on offense

The Atlanta Braves are set to face the Colorado Rockies in the series finale on Sunday, hoping to build on the momentum they gained from snapping a six-game losing streak with an 11-8 win on Saturday night. As the Braves continue their 10-game road trip, they’re focused on turning that big win into a streak and solidifying their spot in the National League wild-card race.

Braves Looking for a Streak with Schwellenbach on the Mound

The Braves have had a bumpy second half of the season, enduring two six-game losing streaks since the All-Star break. Despite the rough patches, they’re still in the playoff mix, currently sitting in third place in the NL wild-card standings. Saturday’s win over the Rockies was a crucial step in getting back on track, and they’re looking to keep that momentum going in Sunday’s game.

Rookie right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach will be on the mound for Atlanta. He’s got a 4-5 record and a 4.04 ERA this season, and he’s been a steady hand over the past five weeks, consistently giving the Braves six solid innings each time out. He’s allowed just nine earned runs over his last 33 innings, and Braves manager Brian Snitker has praised his consistent delivery and pitch execution. This will be Schwellenbach’s first time facing the Rockies.

A strong performance from Schwellenbach could give the Braves the push they need as they gear up for tougher matchups on the road.

Kyle Freeland Aims to Bounce Back for Rockies

The Rockies will counter with lefty Kyle Freeland, who’s had his struggles against the Braves in the past. Freeland has a 1-4 record and a 6.26 ERA in eight career starts against Atlanta, so he’ll be looking to change that narrative in the series finale.

Freeland’s last outing was cut short by a blister on his pitching hand, but he’s been showing improvement since coming off the 60-day injured list in late June. Over his last eight starts, he’s managed to bring his ERA down from 13.21 to 5.65, showing flashes of the form that made him a top pitcher in 2018. To give the Rockies a shot at winning the series, Freeland will need to overcome both his past struggles against the Braves and any lingering issues with the blister.

Team Dynamics and What’s Next

The Braves are looking to build on their recent win and start a new streak as they navigate a challenging road trip that takes them to San Francisco next. Veteran reliever A.J. Minter stressed the importance of riding out the ups and downs of the season as the team works to regain its rhythm.

The Rockies, meanwhile, will be aiming to take the series after winning the opener 6-5. However, the Braves have dominated this matchup in recent years, winning 14 of the last 16 games between the two teams, so Sunday’s game is going to be a tough challenge for Colorado.

Wrapping It Up

As the Braves aim to secure a series win and gain momentum for their playoff push, all eyes will be on Spencer Schwellenbach to see if he can keep his strong run going. For the Rockies, Kyle Freeland’s ability to bounce back and deliver a quality start will be key to their chances of avoiding another loss to Atlanta. With both teams having plenty at stake, Sunday’s game is shaping up to be a crucial battle.

Today’s Braves and Rockies matchup should feature plenty of offense, as this game is projected to finish with the 5th most runs in the league today. However, our lean would be to take the under. For a money line pick, we would be leaning toward the Braves to come out on top. Atlanta has the highest home run projection in the league today, and Kyle Freeland has the 3rd worst strikeout projection among today’s starters.