MLB Lines – Rockies vs Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks (8-19) have been miserable to start the 2014 campaign, with lousy pitching and inconsistent offense being the formula for sitting at the bottom of the National League West division. The Snakes hope to start the job of turning it around at home against the Rockies (13-12) on Monday night.
Date/Time: Monday, April 28 2014, 9:40 pm EST
Venue: Chase Field, Phoenix AZ
Colorado, Arizona (no odds yet listed)
Pitching Match-up: Franklin Morales (2-1, 3.86 ERA) vs. Wade Miley (2-2, 4.50 ERA)
Odds: DBacks -127
Total: 8.5
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The visiting Rockies received some disheartening news recently when slugging 1B/OF Michael Cuddyer claimed his injured hamstring feels no better. Last year’s NL batting champ is 10 days into his 15-day DL stint, and it looks like he’ll need more time to recover.
The good news is that other players have stepped up for Colorado. Superstar SS Troy Tulowitzki has been his usual self, leading the team in OPS as well as hitting .360 with five homers and 17 RBI. Centerfielder Chris Blackmon has been a revelation for the club, hitting a smoking .398 and also chipping in five dingers.
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Canadian veteran and backup 1B Justin Morneau has also been a run-producing animal, registering 19 rib-eyes.
If Cuddyer can return to his usual form, the Rockies’ offense should be potent, even away from the hitter-friendly home turf of Coors Field.
The D-backs desperately need to get their “stuff” together. Monday’s starter Miley has been one of the few pieces of the starting rotation that hasn’t been total garbage.
Arizona GM Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson talk of their assertive analysis of players and their willingness to adjust on the fly, but all that’s led to so far is the jettisoning of some of Arizona’s promising talent (Justin Upton to Atlanta, Adam Eaton and Matt Davidson to the White Sox) and a whole lot of Ls.
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The Snakes have a tantalizing pitching prospect in Archie Bradley; they will probably need his services sooner than they’d like because the starting five have been such a train-wreck.
It’s not all doom and gloom for ‘Zona this early in the season, however. The D-backs’ middle-tier offense has been paced by elite hitter Paul Goldschmidt and the prodigious power of off-season acquisition Mark Trumbo, who has seven HRs and 19 RBI.
The Diamondbacks also have Aaron Hill at second base, who is one of the best hitters at his position in the bigs.
Still, Colorado should be comfortable mashing at Chase Field, as its hitter-friendly tendencies resemble the offensive charms of Coors. Even without Cuddyer, the Rockies haven’t struggled with scoring runs.
MLB Prediction
The pitching has been plenty strong also, by Colorado standards. Starter Jordan Lyles has been great and veteran LaTroy Hawkins has already saved seven ballgames. It’s still very early on, but if those two dimensions of the game can continue to co-exist, the Rockies might contend in the division for longer than anticipated.
The L.A. Dodgers and the San Fran Giants are looming as prohibitive favorites, after all.
This should be an intriguing match-up because Miley has been the best starter in Arizona thus far. Offense should still be plentiful, but if Miley can keep Colorado’s side of the scoreboard under control, big bats like Hill, Goldschmidt and Trumbo should push a few across for the home team.
In the event either side is clinging to a slender lead, the job should be ably finished by either Hawkins or Arizona’s Addison Reed.
Arizona 7, Colorado 5
