Now that the All-Star Game is over and done with and we have officially turned over into the second half of the MLB season, we can really start to take a closer look at the playoff picture. What we see, especially in the National League, is a Wild Card race that is wide open. The Atlanta Braves and the LA Dodgers are the only teams in the NL to have amassed more than 50 wins, with the Dodgers actually making it to 60. Behind those two teams is a mass of teams that are all sporting very similar records, which is making for a tightly packed group in the battle for Wild Card supremacy.
The first Wild Card team, the Washington Nationals, have no less than 9 teams behind them within 4 ½ games of the final spot. The Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies are both in that group, so it goes without saying that this weekend series is an important one for both teams. The Rockies are the MLB Betting favorites at home, but this will not be an easy series for them by any means.
Reds vs Rockies MLB Odds, Game Info & Prediction
- When: Friday, July 12 at 8:40 PM EST
- Where: Coors Field, Denver
- Starting Pitchers: Gray vs. Gray
- TV: ESPN+
- Radio: SiriusXM
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- MLB Odds: Colorado Rockies -140 (Total 12)
Diamondbacks vs Cardinals MLB Spread & Prediction
Why bet on the Cincinnati Reds?
The Reds are in a very strange position in that they are currently sitting at the bottom of the NL Central while only being 4 ½ games out of first, the exact same position as they are in when looking at the Would Card Race. The division might end up being their easier path to the postseason given that no-one in the Central seems to actually want this thing.
The Reds are sitting 5 games below .500 at 41-46, so the reality is that while they are still in the hunt, it’s tough to see them being able to do enough in the second half to actually steal a postseason spot. The Reds have struggled away from home, going 17-25, while overall, they are 8-9 SU versus teams from the West. It will be Sonny Gray (5-5, 3.59 ERA) who starts for the Reds.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 4.23
- Hits: 7.84
- Walks: 2.99
- Strike Outs: 8.78
- Runs: 3.92
- Hits: 7.75
- Walks: 3.34
- Strike Outs: 9.64
Why bet on the Colorado Rockies?
If the Rockies are to make a serious run at the playoffs in the second half, they are going to need to find a way to play more consistent ball. They recovered nicely from a terrible start to the season, getting off the bottom of the NL West and up into second, but they have once again hit the skids, dropping down to 4th with a 44-45 record on the season.
At 14 ½ games off the pace being set by the Dodgers in the division, the Wild Card looks to be the logical playoff path for Colorado. They are very much in the hunt there, sitting 2 ½ games out of the final spot. The break came at a good time for this team, as they were on a 6-game losing skid at the time. They will have Jon Gray (9-6, 3.92 ERA) starting in this one.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.51
- Hits: 9.37
- Walks: 2.97
- Strike Outs: 9.49
- Runs: 5.48
- Hits: 9.54
- Walks: 3.44
- Strike Outs: 8.12
Reds vs Rockies MLB Betting Trends
- Rockies are 95-76 against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons
- Reds are 28-20 against the money line in night games this season
- Gray is 4-0 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 4.76 and a WHIP of 1.588
- Reds are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Cincinnati’s last 7 games when playing on the road against Colorado
- Rockies are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games this season
- The total has gone OVER in 8 of Colorado’s last 10 games at home
Dodgers vs Red Sox MLB Lines & Game Preview
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Reds vs Rockies
Both teams will be looking to snap out of the funk that they landed in before the break, with the slight edge here going to the Rockies in their own ballpark. I like Colorado to get the win in a close one on Friday.
Score: Cincinnati Reds 3 – Colorado Rockies 4
