Colorado Rockies vs Baltimore Orioles Picks and Predictions August 30th 2024

From Coors Field in Denver, we have the Orioles and Rockies facing off in an interleague matchup. Friday’s matchup has a start time of 8:40 PM ET, and the forecast calls for clear skies and temperatures in the upper 80s.

Baltimore is currently 2nd in the AL East with a record of 77-58, while the Rockies are 5th in the NL West with a record of 50-85. Colorado comes into the game on a two-game losing streak. Albert Suarez is starting for the Orioles, while the Rockies are starting Austin Gomber. The money line odds have the Orioles favored at -169 compared to the Rockies at +142. The over/under line is currently 11.5 runs, and the Rockies are 5-1 on the under in their last six games.

Baltimore vs. Colorado Key Information

Right-hander Albert Suárez gets the start for the Orioles today as he faces the Rockies on the road. He has made 18 starts this season and has a record of 6-4 with an ERA of 3.18. Suárez’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.27. In his 18 starts, he has turned in four quality starts and is coming off an outing in which he didn’t allow a run. In that start vs. the Red Sox, he went six innings and gave up six hits. Suárez has allowed a total of eight homers this season.

Heading into today’s game, the Orioles are 2nd in the MLB in home runs and are the league’s top team in terms of isolated power, at .192. Overall, they are 3rd in the league in runs per game, averaging 4.9 runs per contest. This number goes up to 5.2 runs per game when they are on the road. As a team, they are batting .250, which is 8th in the league.

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Anthony Santander and Gunnar Henderson are the Orioles’ top home run hitters this season, with 38 and 33 homers, respectively. Santander’s 86 RBIs are the best mark on the team, and Henderson is 2nd with 78 RBIs. Santander is hitting just .236 this season, but Henderson comes into the game with a batting average of .278. Over his last five games, Ramon Urias has gone 5/15 with two homers and seven RBIs.

Left-hander Austin Gomber gets the start for the Rockies today as he faces the Orioles at home. Gomber has made 25 starts this season and has a record of 4-9 with a 4.70 ERA. Looking at his overall numbers, Gomber has a WHIP of 1.29 and has issued just 2.28 walks per nine innings. Coming into the game, he has a batting average allowed of .259 and has given up a total of 26 home runs. In his last outing, Gomber gave up four earned runs in six innings of work and took the loss. Before that, he had won two straight starts.

So far this season, the Rockies are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 17th in the league. However, they have been a much better offensive team at home, averaging 5 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .244, which is 12th in the league, and have the 16th most home runs in the league. The Rockies have been striking out a lot this season, averaging 9 strikeouts per game.

Colorado comes into the game with a few hitters who have been swinging the bat well of late. Ezequiel Tovar has gone 9/30 in his last seven games with two homers and seven RBIs. Brenton Doyle has also gone deep twice in his last six games while hitting .318. For the season, Doyle is batting .274, and his 22 homers are the best on the team and 15th in the league.

For a money-line pick, we are leaning toward the Rockies to come out on top as the home underdog. As for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the under, as this is projected to be the 5th highest-scoring game of the day, and our lean is on the under. Colorado starter Austin Gomber has the 6th best innings pitched projection among today’s starters, and Albert Suárez is 2nd in our projections in starting pitcher strikeouts.

Orioles Turn to Albert Suarez Against Rockies in Bid to Stop Skid

The Colorado Rockies, fresh off a challenging series against the Miami Marlins, now face an even tougher opponent in the Baltimore Orioles, one of the top teams in the American League. As the Rockies strive to avoid a second consecutive 100-loss season, they will host the Orioles for a three-game series beginning Friday night at Coors Field in Denver.

Orioles’ Pitching: Albert Suarez Takes the Mound

Baltimore, coming off back-to-back losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers, including a 6-3 defeat on Thursday night, is looking to bounce back quickly. The Orioles, who have fallen 1.5 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East, will rely on right-hander Albert Suarez to help end their minor skid.

Suarez, sporting a 6-4 record with a 3.18 ERA, has been a consistent performer for the Orioles this season. The 34-year-old pitcher has a brief history against the Rockies, holding a 4.15 ERA in four appearances, including one start. All of his outings against Colorado have taken place at Coors Field, where he has a slightly higher ERA of 4.50.

After last pitching in the majors in 2017 with the San Francisco Giants, Suarez revitalized his career overseas in Japan and South Korea before signing a minor league deal with Baltimore. His comeback story has been one of perseverance and improvement, much to the delight of Orioles manager Brandon Hyde.

“You need great stories, you need cool things to happen, and Albert is one of those great stories,” Hyde said. “A guy who’s been a journeyman and has been a huge, huge part of why we have the record we have.”

One key to Suarez’s success this season has been his ability to generate more power from his legs, leading to increased velocity and better overall performance.

“As a pitcher, you need to learn how to use power from the ground,” Suarez explained. “I’ve always been strong, but I didn’t know how to use it.”

Rockies’ Offense: Brendan Rodgers and Veteran Presence

Suarez will face a Rockies lineup that, while young, includes seasoned veterans like second baseman Brendan Rodgers. After a slow start to the season, Rodgers has found his stride in the second half, particularly in August. He is batting .316 this month, with five home runs and 14 RBIs, including a two-homer game on Thursday.

“You could nitpick on a number of things, 12 home runs (on the season) and I think there’s more in there and he’d be the first to tell you,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “The RBI total (48), maybe you can nitpick at that, but he’s doing fine. He’s playing good defense, he’s hitting .274, he’s had a good second half, and hits well at home. Like all of our guys, we’ve got to do a better job of hitting on the road.”

Rodgers’ resurgence has been one of the few bright spots for the Rockies in a challenging season. His contributions, particularly at home, have been crucial for a team striving to finish the season on a positive note.

Colorado’s Pitching: Austin Gomber Seeks Stability

On the mound for Colorado will be left-hander Austin Gomber, who has been a stabilizing force in the Rockies’ rotation despite a lack of wins. Gomber enters the game with a 4-9 record and a 4.70 ERA, but his recent performances have shown promise. He has pitched at least six innings in four of his last five starts, posting a 2-2 record with a 4.34 ERA during that span.

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Friday’s game will be Gomber’s first career start against the Orioles, presenting a new challenge for the southpaw. Gomber’s ability to go deep into games has been vital for a Rockies team that has struggled with consistency throughout the season.

As the Orioles and Rockies prepare to face off, both teams are eager to turn the page on recent setbacks. For Baltimore, the goal is to halt their small skid and keep pace in the competitive AL East, while Colorado looks to build on the few positives they’ve seen in a difficult year. The series opener promises to be a test of resilience and opportunity for both clubs.