Colorado Rockies vs Arizona Diamondbacks Picks and Predictions September 17th 2024

Arizona and Colorado face off in an NL West matchup at 8:40 PM ET at Coors Field in Denver. The Diamondbacks are 83-67 this season, while the Rockies are 58-93 overall. Ryan Feltner is starting for the Rockies, and the Diamondbacks are starting Jordan Montgomery.

Arizona is favored on the money line, with the odds sitting at -150 compared to the Rockies at +127. The over/under line is currently 11.5 runs, and the forecasted temperature in Denver calls for cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-80s.

Arizona vs. Colorado Key Information

• Teams: Diamondbacks at Rockies
• Where: Coors Field Denver
• Date: Tuesday, September 17th
• Betting Odds ARI -150 | COL +127 O/U 11.5

The Diamondbacks Can Win If…

Left-hander Jordan Montgomery gets the start for the Diamondbacks today as he faces off against the Rockies on the road. He has made 19 starts this season and has a record of 8-6 with an ERA of 6.25. Montgomery’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.64. Out of his 23 appearances, he has turned in six quality starts. Looking back at his last outing, Montgomery came out of the bullpen and went three innings, giving up no earned runs on two hits. He didn’t issue a walk in that outing. Montgomery has not taken a loss since August 14th.

Arizona’s offense has been the best in the league this season, averaging 5.5 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.8 runs per contest. Not only do the Diamondbacks lead the league in OBP and OPS, but they also have the top team batting average in the league at .264.

Ketel Marte and Eugenio Suarez have been the team’s top power threats this season, with Marte leading the team with 32 homers and Suarez right behind him at 28. Suarez has also been hot of late, going 7/18 with two homers in his last five games. Randal Grichuk has also been swinging a hot bat, going 5/8 with two homers in his last three games and is currently on a three-game hitting streak.

• The Diamondbacks are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Diamondbacks are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• Arizona has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Diamondbacks have an average of 7.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Diamondbacks are 6-4
• Looking back across the Diamondbacks last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Arizona has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Diamondbacks have averaged 5.8 runs per game on offense

The Rockies Can Win If…

Ryan Feltner will be looking to build off his last outing, where he gave up just two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work. In that outing vs. the Tigers, he gave up six hits, three walks, and two home runs. Feltner finished with a no-decision in that outing. Looking back over his last four outings, he has finished with a no-decision in each one. Feltner’s record for the season is 2-10, and he has an ERA of 4.89 to go along with a WHIP of 1.39. Opposing batters are hitting .257 off the right-hander this season.

So far this season, the Rockies have been a below-average offense, averaging 4.2 runs per game. However, they have been much better at home, where they are averaging 5 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .241, which is 14th in the league, and are 15th in home runs. One of the strengths of the Rockies offense has been their ability to avoid strikeouts, as they are 29th in the league in strikeouts.

Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle have been the Rockies’ top two hitters this season, with Tovar leading the team with 24 homers and Doyle right behind him at 22. Tovar is also 2nd on the team with 68 RBIs, while Doyle is the team leader with 70 RBIs. Michael Toglia also has 24 homers but is batting just .218 for the 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 4.8 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

Jordan Montgomery Returns to D-backs’ Rotation Against Rockies in Pivotal Matchup

The Arizona Diamondbacks are counting on Jordan Montgomery to stabilize their starting rotation as he makes his return to the mound on Tuesday night against the Colorado Rockies in Denver. After a brief stint in the bullpen, Montgomery is set to make his 20th start of the season, hoping to provide the spark Arizona needs as they battle for a playoff spot.

Montgomery’s Road Back to the Starting Rotation

Montgomery has faced challenges this season, leading to his temporary demotion to the bullpen. Over a seven-start stretch earlier this year, he posted a disappointing 7.88 ERA, prompting the Diamondbacks to experiment with him in relief. In four bullpen appearances, Montgomery showed some improvement, recording a 4.85 ERA, but with injuries plaguing Arizona’s rotation, including the loss of Ryne Nelson to right shoulder inflammation, Montgomery has been called back to the starting role.

Despite his earlier struggles, Montgomery has had success against the Rockies in the past, sporting a 2-0 record and a 3.09 ERA in two career starts against Colorado. However, this will be his first outing at Coors Field, a notoriously difficult ballpark for pitchers due to its hitter-friendly conditions.

Diamondbacks Aim to Bounce Back After Monday’s Loss

The Diamondbacks (83-67) are looking to rebound after a tough 3-2 loss to the Rockies in the series opener on Monday. Colorado secured the win in the ninth inning, putting additional pressure on Arizona as they continue their push for a wild-card spot. Montgomery’s return to the rotation comes at a crucial time, with the team needing stability to stay competitive.

Arizona’s rotation has been impacted by injuries, forcing the team to shuffle their roster. In addition to Nelson’s injury, closer Paul Sewald was placed on the injured list with neck discomfort, and right-hander Scott McGough was recalled from Triple-A Reno to bolster the bullpen.

Rockies’ Ryan Feltner Looks to Continue Strong September

The Colorado Rockies (58-93), who have been playing the role of spoiler, will counter with Ryan Feltner (2-10, 4.89 ERA). Feltner has shown signs of improvement in September, posting a 2.31 ERA over his last two starts. He earned a win against Milwaukee on Sept. 6 and followed that up with a solid outing against Detroit, allowing just two runs over 5 2/3 innings.

Despite his recent success, Feltner has struggled historically against Arizona, holding a 9.00 ERA in three career starts. However, the Rockies have been on a hot streak, winning four of their last five games, and will look to keep their momentum going at home.

Key Matchup: Montgomery’s Return vs. Feltner’s Momentum

This matchup will be a pivotal one for both teams. The Diamondbacks are counting on Montgomery to regain his form and relieve pressure on their bullpen, while the Rockies hope Feltner can continue his September surge and play spoiler once again. With Arizona fighting to hold onto a wild-card spot, every game counts, and the D-backs need a strong performance from their veteran starter to stay in the race.

For Montgomery, the key will be managing Coors Field’s challenging conditions and keeping the Rockies’ offense at bay. Meanwhile, Feltner will aim to reverse his fortunes against Arizona and build on his recent success.

What’s at Stake

As the Diamondbacks chase a playoff spot, Montgomery’s return to the rotation could be a deciding factor in their postseason push. Arizona holds a 2.5-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the top NL wild-card spot, but they also trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by 3.5 games in the NL West. With the season winding down, every win matters for Arizona, and they’ll need to lean on Montgomery to help secure a victory.

For the Rockies, although their playoff hopes are long gone, playing spoiler against division rivals gives them plenty of motivation. With Feltner riding a hot streak, Colorado will aim to disrupt the D-backs’ playoff aspirations once again.

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean would be to take the under, as this is projected to be the 5th lowest-scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Diamondbacks to pick up the win. Looking at today’s starters, we have Jordan Montgomery as our 9th best strikeout pitcher in today’s slate compared to Ryan Feltner, who is 18th.