Rockies vs Dodgers – MLB Odds & Picks

The Los Angeles Dodgers are running away with the NL West, while the Colorado Rockies are closer to last than first – yet it’s quite possible these teams could meet in the expanded playoffs. They open a weekend series at Dodger Stadium on Friday and L.A. will be heavily favored in each game.

How to Bet Rockies at Dodgers MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, 9:40 PM ET
Where: Dodger Stadium
Probable pitchers (away/home): Antonio Senzatela/Dustin May
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Why Bet on Colorado?

Rockies manager Bud Black said Wednesday that Brendan Rodgers, a former touted infield prospect could resume throwing in a day or two. Red flags went up when Rodgers was placed on the injured list Monday with a right shoulder issue, as he required a labrum repair on that same shoulder last year. Rodgers won’t be back this weekend but could be later this month. Rodgers was hurt when he slid awkwardly and was landed on by Padres third baseman Manny Machado. Rodgers was 2-for-21 through seven games played this season with Colorado.

Earlier this week, the Rockies optioned LHP Phillip Diehl to their alternate training site. Diehl has surrendered seven earned runs in six innings this season with the Rockies for an ERA of 10.50. So why is that a big deal? Because Colorado now has not a single lefty in the bullpen.

“Well, again, it’s nice to have that balanced bullpen. We just don’t have that right now,” Black told media members this week. “It’s gonna require our right-handed pitchers to get both left- and right-handed hitters out.”

Having a left-handed reliever available to face a left-handed batter isn’t as big of a strategy as it has been in years past, thanks in part to the three-batter minimum in place for relief pitchers in 2020.

It’s scheduled to be Antonio Senzatela (3-1) on the bump here. Senzatela fired seven scoreless innings on Saturday in a no-decision against the Padres. Senzatela scattered seven hits over seven solid frames, but was saddled with a no-decision after the Rockies bullpen melted down in the eighth inning. He recorded three strikeouts and only issued one walk.

Senzatela was dominant, throwing 70 of his 101 pitches for strikes and limiting the Padres — one of the best offenses in the NL — to just eight baserunners. The 25-year-old right-hander will carry a sparkling 3.32 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 28/7/ K/BB ratio across 43 1/3 innings (seven starts) into this outing.

On Aug. 23 vs. the Dodgers, he surrendered four homers over 5 1/3 frames. He allowed solo homers to Kyle Seager, Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger, and he also allowed a three-run shot to Enrique Hernandez.

Why Bet on LA Dodgers?

The Dodgers optioned LHP Scott Alexander to their alternate training site. Alexander boasts a 2.92 ERA in 12 1/3 innings this season, but he did struggle in an appearance Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks. They did that to make room for Walker Buehler, who was activated from the injured list.

Third baseman Justin Turner has been placed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. Turner, 35, injured his hamstring while stealing second base at Texas last Friday. The roster move is retroactive to Saturday, meaning Turner can return Sept. 8. Turner is batting .282 with two homers and 20 RBIs in 32 games this season. He is in the final year of his contract with the Dodgers. The 2017 All-Star recorded his 1,000th hit on August 11 against the Padres, becoming the 1,342nd player in MLB baseball to accomplish the feat.

The Dodgers are 9-0-3 on the season in series this season. They are the only team in baseball that has not dropped a series this season and have not lost a series since September 6-8, 2019 at San Francisco. The record for most consecutive series without a loss to start a season is 17 by the 1990 Reds.

It’s rookie Dustin May (1-1, 2.83) on the mound here. May allowed two runs over six innings against the Rangers on Friday as part of a no-decision. He gave up an RBI double to Shin-Soo Choo and an RBI single to Nick Solak in the third inning, but he avoided any further issues. Despite turning in his third quality start of the season, the right-hander was on the hook for his second loss until the Dodgers got their only offense of the night in the top of the seventh inning

May struck out three and walked a pair, which means that he’s now struck out just eight batters combined over the course of his last four starts. May continues to have trouble putting away hitters, posting a 23:9 K:BB through 35 innings.

May faced the Rockies on Aug. 22 and allowed one run over five innings in a no-decision. He surrendered only two hits, as a solo homer off the bat of Sam Hilliard in the third inning represented the lone tally against him.