Game: Atlanta Braves @ Colorado Rockies
Time: 8:40 p.m.
Odds: Braves -250, Rockies +205
Total: 13.5
Sometimes, a team just has your number. The Atlanta Braves have the Colorado Rockies number; that’s for sure. This season, Colorado has lost each of the six meetings between the teams, eight in a row overall, and 12 of the previous 13. When the Rockies host Atlanta on Wednesday night to finish a three-game series, they have one more chance to get a win.
Kyle Freeland, a left-handed pitcher for Colorado (5-13, 5.00 ERA), will take the mound against Darius Vines, a major league rookie for the Braves. Despite having a forgettable season, Freeland has stepped up when it has been his turn. He will make his 26th start of the year on Wednesday night, and he may be the only pitcher still pitching who started the year in the rotation.
In seven career starts against Atlanta, Freeland is 1-3 with a 5.80 ERA. He lost to the Braves, who have the best record in baseball, on June 15 in Atlanta after giving up seven runs in 4.1 innings. For the Rockies, losing to the Braves has become routine. Atlanta won the first two games of this series by a combined score of 17-5, but in Tuesday’s 3-1 victory, the Braves scored just three runs on 15 hits.
Rockies manager Bud Black was impressed with his team’s effort. The Rockies are young playing an experienced Braves team that is accustomed to winning. Effort doesn’t win games though and Black and company will try to figure out a way to get to Vines.
Due to shoulder inflammation, Vines didn’t start pitching until the end of June this year. Since being activated, he has made nine starts across three levels of the minors, going 2-2 with a 2.70 ERA. He was called up on Monday to add depth to the bullpen, but manager Brian Snitker decided to let him make his Major League Baseball debut at hitter-friendly Coors Field. That will be a serious challenge for the 25-year-old Vines.
Veteran Charlie Morton had a standout performance as he recorded his 14th victory of the year last night. He became just the fourth pitcher in his age group (39+) to allow no more than one run and three hits in at least six innings at Denver’s Coors Field, according to MLB.com. The others? Tom Glavine (2008) and Greg Maddux (2007), who both pitched for the Braves, and Randy Johnson (2007). All three of those guys are in the Hall of Fame.
Atlanta is 6-1 SU in its last seven games. The Braves have won eight straight against Colorado and they are 7-0 SU in their last seven trips to Coors Field. The Rockies are 1-8 SU in their last nine games. Take one look at tonight’s total – 13.5. In their last ten meetings, the Braves and Rockies have averaged 10.2 runs per game. However, in their last three matchups – all played this year – the two teams have averaged a total of 14 runs per game.
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