Cleveland Guardians vs Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies are a struggling franchise that doesn't seem to have a whole lot of direction. They will take the field vs. Cleveland at 19-37 on the season, and have split the first two games of this series. The Rockies pitching is simply not going to be able to do enough here, and the bullpen has been overworked. The Guardians offense is hot, plating 19 runs during the past two games, and I don't think Ty Blach is the answer for the Rockies, with Colorado going 8-17 in his last 25 decisions. I like Cleveland in this one.

First-place Cleveland has winning records both home and away. The pitching is fourth in the majors in ERA (3.29), while the offense is third in runs scored, 10th in on-base percentage, 12th in slugging, and seventh in steals. Triston McKenzie (3.44 ERA) is holding batters to a .206 average with the team 7-2 in his last nine starts. Cleveland is on a 12-2 run and is 26-16 versus righty starters. Last place Colorado is getting outscored by 72 runs, the second-worst differential in the NL. The pitching is last in ERA (5.18), while the offense is 21st in runs, 19th in on-base percentage, and 18th in steals. Batters are hitting .287 off starter Ryan Feltner (5.07 ERA) with the team 3-7 in his 10 starts. Play Cleveland. 

Cleveland continues to amaze with a current nine-game win streak after sweeping the Los Angeles Angels capped by a 5-4 victory on Sunday. The Guardians are 36-17 and that matches their best start ever and they have allowed only 3.22 runs per game during the streak. Xzavion Curry is scheduled to make his third start of the season and he allowed two runs on nine hits in 9 1/3 innings his first two and Cleveland won both. Austin Gomber has pitched well for Colorado recently, but the Rockies are 1-5 his past six starts with four days of rest. The Guardians have won five straight as favorites of -110 to -150 and they are 18-11 on the road. Colorado has lost six of nine and it is entrenched in last place in the NL West. Take the Guardians as a Max Play.

Colorado's offense certainly hits better at Coors Field. They're on a seven-game road trip on a 5-1 run UNDER the total. The offense is 21st in the majors in runs scored and on-base percentage, plus 22nd in slugging. Starter German Marquez is a reliable arm walking two and fanning 13 in 16 innings holding batters to a .224 average. The Rockies are 34-15-2 UNDER the total in interleague action, including 20-7 UNDER in interleague road games. Cleveland's offense is 25th in runs scored, 20th in on-base percentage, and 29th in slugging. The pitching staff is 13th in team ERA with a Top 10 bullpen (3.29 ERA) as they bring up top prospect Tanner Bibee. Bibee had a 1.76 ERA in three starts at Triple-A Columbus. Cleveland is on an 11-5 run UNDER the total and the UNDER is 7-0-1 when these teams clash. Take Colorado/Cleveland UNDER the total.