After getting swept by the Dodgers, the Atlanta Braves continue their road trip on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies. On the road, the Braves are favored with a moneyline of -165, while Colorado’s moneyline is set at +140. The game also has an ambitious over/under of 12.5 runs.
The only silver lining for the Braves is that their three-game losing streak hasn’t cost them first place in the NL East. Even with the Phillies winning five in a row, Atlanta’s lead atop the NL East is two games. However, they don’t have a lot of margin for error moving forward, so getting back on track is important.
As for the Rockies, they have nothing to play for right now, sitting ten games out of a playoff spot. However, they did have a good stretch during the middle part of August. The Rox have also won four of their last seven games and even took a series from the Dodgers, so they won’t be intimidated to play another first-place team.
Good Chi
The Rockies will send Chi Chi Gonzalez to the mound for Thursday’s series opener. It’s been a rough season for Gonzalez, who lost his spot in the rotation at one point and is currently 3-6 with a 6.08 ERA over 16 starts and five relief appearances. Gonzalez has allowed at least three runs in each of his last four starts, so things aren’t moving in the right direction for him.
Of course, the Braves hit a massive speed bump when they faced the Dodgers earlier this week, scoring three runs or less in each game. Not having to face an elite starting pitcher should help the Atlanta lineup, as should playing at Coors Field. However, most of Atlanta’s lineup has cooled off in recent days, even Dansby Swanson and Freddie Freeman, who both had an excellent August.
It’s Touki Time
It’ll be Touki Toussaint getting the start for the Braves on Thursday. His season got off to a late start, but Toussaint has pitched well since coming back from injury, posting a 3.60 ERA over seven starts and one relief appearance. He had one rough start in late July, although Toussaint has allowed two earned runs or less in every one of his other starts.
That being said, the Rockies have a potent offense, especially when playing at home. The Rockies scored nine runs on Wednesday during a road win over the Rangers and averaged 6.3 runs per game during a six-game homestand last month. Despite spending the last week on the road, C.J. Cron and Trevor Story are returning home raging-hot.
Root for the Home Team
The Braves are surely the better team and should get a solid outing from Toussaint. But the Rockies are 21 games over .500 at home this season and swing the bats much better at Coors Field. Given the difference in the moneyline of each team, bettors will receive far more value in this game by betting on the Rockies.
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