Colorado Rockies vs San Diego Padres Picks and Predictions August 18th 2024

Joe Musgrove will start for the Padres on Sunday, and he is facing off against Bradley Blalock and the Rockies. This NL West matchup has the Padres favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -201, while the Rockies are the slight underdogs at +171. The over/under line is at 11.5 runs, and the game is being played at Coors Field in Denver.

The Rockies are currently in last place in the NL West, as they are 5th with a record of 45-79. The Padres are 2nd in the division and have an overall record of 70-54.

Right-hander Joe Musgrove gets the start for the Padres today as he faces the Rockies on the road. He has made 11 starts this season and has a record of 3-4 with an ERA of 5.20. Musgrove’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.42. In his last outing, Musgrove finished with a no-decision, going 4 1/3 innings and not giving up a run to the Pirates. Looking back over his last three outings, he has given up two earned runs in each of them. Musgrove has allowed a total of 10 home runs this season.

So far this season, the Padres are the top hitting team in the league, averaging 4.8 runs per game and batting a collective .267. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.1 runs per game. San Diego is also the top home run hitting team in the league, and they have the fewest strikeouts in the league. Jurickson Profar has been a big reason why the Padres offense has been so good, as he is batting .293 for the season and is the team’s leader in home runs (19) and RBIs (73).

Profar is also one of the Padres’ hottest hitters coming into the game, as he has gone 13/34 in his last nine games with four homers. Luis Arraez is also on a three-game hitting streak and has gone 14/41 in his last nine games. For the season, Arraez is batting .308 and is 2nd on the team with 34 RBIs.

Bradley Blalock will be making his first start of the season for the Rockies, as he has been used out of the bullpen in his first two appearances. He went just one inning in his first outing of the year, and then went 5 2/3 in his last appearance. He gave up 3 runs in that outing, but did strike out 4 batters.

One of the keys to the Rockies offense this season has been their ability to avoid strikeouts, as they are 28th in the league in strikeouts per game. As a team, they are averaging 4.3 runs per game (17th) and have been even better at home, averaging 4.9 runs per contest. Overall, the Rockies are batting .244, which is 10th in the league.

Both Brenton Doyle and Michael Toglia come into the game with 20 homers, which is the best mark on the team. Toglia is batting just .221 for the season, but he has gone deep 20 times. Ezequiel Tovar has been a consistent hitter for the Rockies, batting .273 for the season, and has 19 homers.

Rockies Wrap Up Series Against Padres, Focusing on Youth Development

As the Colorado Rockies close out their three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Sunday afternoon in Denver, the focus is on giving their young players valuable experience while trying to halt the Padres’ momentum. The Rockies, who have shifted their focus to the future, will send 23-year-old right-hander Bradley Blalock to the mound in his second major league start, hoping to cool off a Padres team that has won 20 of its last 24 games.

Rockies’ Youth Movement and Bradley Blalock’s Development

The Colorado Rockies have turned the page on the 2024 season, giving younger players like Bradley Blalock a chance to prove themselves at the major league level. Acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers on July 27, Blalock made his MLB debut with Colorado on Monday, allowing two runs over 4 1/3 innings. Now, he’s getting another opportunity to showcase his potential on Sunday against the Padres.

Blalock first got a taste of the big leagues with the Brewers in June, pitching a scoreless inning against these same Padres. As he continues to adjust to life in the majors, the Rockies will be closely watching his development, hoping he can become a key part of their rotation in the future.

Drew Romo’s Major League Debut

The Rockies’ commitment to youth is further highlighted by the promotion of 22-year-old catcher Drew Romo, who made his major league debut on Saturday night. Romo, one of the organization’s top prospects, was called up after the team released veteran catcher Elias Diaz. Although Romo went 0-for-4 in his debut, he’s expected to get significant playing time over the final six weeks of the season as the Rockies evaluate his readiness for a larger role in 2025.

General manager Bill Schmidt emphasized the importance of this opportunity for Romo, saying, “We’ve got to get better. The first step in getting better is giving Drew an opportunity here to get established.”

Joe Musgrove’s Return Bolsters Padres

While the Rockies are looking to the future, the Padres are firmly focused on the present. They’ve been one of the hottest teams in baseball, winning 20 of their last 24 games, and they’re eager to keep that momentum going. Joe Musgrove, a veteran right-hander, will take the mound for the Padres in his second start since returning from a month-long stint on the injured list due to inflammation and triceps tendinitis.

Musgrove was sharp in his return last Monday, allowing just two hits over 4 1/3 scoreless innings in a 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has adjusted his delivery to reduce stress on his elbow, and the Padres are counting on him to continue building up his strength and endurance as they push for a postseason spot.

“Typical Joe, he was attacking guys,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “Good for him, and good for us to have Joe back.”

Sunday’s start will be Musgrove’s 12th of the season and his ninth career start against the Rockies. He has a solid track record against Colorado, with a 4-3 record and a 3.06 ERA in those appearances, though pitching at Coors Field presents its own challenges.

Game Implications: Rockies’ Development vs. Padres’ Playoff Push

For the Rockies, Sunday’s game is another step in their rebuilding process. Blalock’s performance will be crucial not only for the game’s outcome but also for his development as the Rockies look to identify future contributors. Drew Romo’s continued adjustment to major league pitching will also be a focal point as Colorado evaluates its young talent.

The Padres, on the other hand, are focused on maintaining their strong form as they chase a postseason berth. With Musgrove back in the rotation, they’re looking to solidify their pitching staff and continue their winning ways.

Conclusion: Rockies’ Young Guns Face Tough Test Against Padres

As the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres conclude their series, the focus is clear: the Rockies are investing in the future, while the Padres are in win-now mode. Bradley Blalock will look to make the most of his second start as he faces a potent Padres lineup led by the returning Joe Musgrove. For the Rockies, it’s about development and progress; for the Padres, it’s about keeping the pressure on in the playoff race. Sunday’s game will be a key test for both teams as they pursue their respective goals.

Our lean for an over/under pick would be to take the under, as we have this as the 6th lowest-scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Padres to come out on top. San Diego’s offense is our 5th highest-rated team in terms of hits, and Joe Musgrove is 5th among today’s starters in projected strikeouts. On the other side, Bradley Blalock has the 3rd best strikeout projection among today’s starters.