Thursday, September 24, 2015

Coors Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Jeff Locke (8-11) vs. Chad Bettis (8-5)

The Colorado Rockies host the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field on Thursday. Jeff Locke is the probable starter for the Pirates and he'll face Chad Bettis of the Rockies. The opening line for this matchup has Pittsburgh at -135 and Colorado at +125. The over/under was set at 11. The Pirates, with a 67-84 run line record, cover the spread 44% of the time. They also have a 71-68 over/under record. The Rockies have a 78-69 over/under record and a 75-76 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 50% of the time.

The Pirates come into this game with a 91-60 record, and they are 41-35 away from home. Jeff Locke has an earned run average of 4.48 and is 8-11 so far on the season while having a 1.41 WHIP. He's pitched 162.2 innings thus far while surrendering 172 hits over that time and when he starts, the Pirates are 15-14. Against the over/under, the Pirates are 16-10 in his starts. His teammates are averaging 4.1 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen has given up 422 hits on the season and have an earned run average of 2.64. The bullpen has struck out 428 and walked 149 batters this season while opposing teams hit .232 against them. Pittsburgh has a team average of 8.44 hits allowed per game and are averaging 8.06 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 3.21, they are 2nd in the league.

Pittsburgh ranks 8th in the league in team batting average at .261 while hitting .260 on the road. The Pirates on-base percentage sits at .324, which puts them at 9th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .397. With 156 hits, Andrew McCutchen leads the team while his team ranks 7th in hits per game with 9.06.

With a 63-88 overall record, Colorado will come into this game 33-43 at home. Chad Bettis is starting this game 8-5 for the season with an earned run average of 4.46 and a WHIP of 1.40. He's pitched 103 innings thus far while surrendering 107 hits over that time in which the Rockies are 12-6. Against the over/under, the Rockies are 10-8 when he starts. His teammates score an average of 5.2 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen has given up 550 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 4.69. The Rockies bullpen has struck out 448 batters and walked 226 this season while opposing teams have hit .265 against them. Colorado has a team average of 9.91 hits per game and are averaging 6.98 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 5.04, they are 30th in the league.

They rank 7th in the league in team batting average with a .264 average while hitting .300 at home. The Rockies on-base percentage sits at .315, which puts them at 16th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .430. With 165 hits, Charlie Blackmon leads the team while his team ranks 6th in hits per game with 9.06.

In terms of team defense, the Pirates have a fielding percentage of .981 with 115 total errors, 1,754 assists and 4,166 put outs. Over the course of this season, the Rockies have accumulated 92 errors while having 1,689 assists and 3,987 put outs leading to a .984 fielding percentage.

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 71-68 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 67-84 against the run line so far this season

Colorado Rockies Betting Trends

The Colorado Rockies are 78-69 against the over/under so far this season

The Colorado Rockies are 75-76 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Pittsburgh Pirates

09/23/15 3B Aramis Ramirez Groin "?" Wednesday vs. Colorado Rockies
09/17/15 SS Jung Ho Kang Knee Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (9/21); out for season
09/02/15 P Casey Sadler Forearm Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (9/1)
08/08/15 P Deolis Guerra Knee Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (8/7)
07/19/15 CF Gorkys Hernandez Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/13)
06/24/15 RF Corey Hart Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/22)
05/07/15 LF Andrew Lambo Plantar Fasciitis Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/4)
04/06/15 P Brandon Cumpton Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)

Colorado Rockies

09/22/15 P Yohan Flande Knee is downgraded to expected to miss start Friday vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
09/22/15 P Jorge De La Rosa Achilles expected to miss Wednesday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
09/22/15 3B Nolan Arenado Facial injured last game, "?" Wednesday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
09/10/15 C Nick Hundley Neck Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (9/6), out for season
08/20/15 C Michael McKenry Knee Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (8/19); out for season
07/10/15 P David Hale Groin Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/9)
06/18/15 P Brooks Brown Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/17)
06/01/15 P Jordan Lyles Toe Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/1); out for season
04/28/15 P Adam Ottavino Tricep Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/26)
04/04/15 P Tyler Chatwood Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/1)

Tony's Pick: Take the Pirates

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