Rockies vs Giants MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
The Colorado Rockies came into Monday’s Game 1 being swept by the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, and will get a chance to face one of the majors’ least intimidating lineups in Tuesday’s Game 2 against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
COL: Jeremy Guthrie (2-15.92 ERA) vs. SFO: Tim Lincecum (2-3, 5.89 ERA)
Date/Time: Tuesday, May 15, 10:15 PM ET
Venue: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
Broadcast: ROOT (Colorado), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
Spread: -157
Over/Under: 6.5
It will be game five of the Rockies nine-game road trip that has started out all but impressive.
They will look to change all that by handing the ball to 33-year old right-hander Jeremy Guthrie in Game 2, following the veteran’s return from the 15-day disabled list after injuring his right shoulder in a fall from his bicycle 18 days ago.
Guthrie has gone 2-1 with a 5.92 ERA through his first four starts this season and should be ready to take on the Giants as Colorado’s best option a team that ranks in the bottom third in the majors in runs (126) and homers (24), but are surprisingly coming off one of their stronger offensive displays of the year in their series against Arizona.
This despite the Giants’ infield featuring relative unknowns Hector Sanchez, Brett Pill, Charlie Culberson, Brandon Crawford and Joaquin Arias. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Pill hit his third homer, while the only marquee player, Melky Cabrera, went 4 for 5 with a pair of runs as the Giants had a season-high 14 hits in Sunday’s 7-3 win.
Cabrera has collected 12 hits in 22 at-bats (.545) – including a pair of homers – in his last five games against Colorado. He is also averaging .468 during his 11-game hitting streak.
Meanwhile, the Giants will increase their chances of shutting down Colorado’s potentially-potent offense that is ranked sixth in runs (164), seventh in home runs (37), and is led by left fielder Carlos Gonzalez who has gotten off to a productive start this season with 26 RBIs through 27 games with a .583 slugging percentage.
Looking to stop him will be 27 year old two-time NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum who has struggled with a 5.89 ERA early on but is still racking up the strikeouts and can turn things around at any point. So far this season, he has a 41-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 36 2/3 innings.
When “the Freak” faced Colorado on April 11, he allowed six runs over 2 1/3 innings in the no-decision.
Matt’s Free Prediction: San Francisco- For Colorado is all boils down to just how dominant Guthrie can be. Which in my opinion won’t be enough to notch the win.
