Colorado Rockies

Chopping Lines: Jeff Kent and His Three Black Friends Ready for Rockies

Chopping Lines: It’s a Sunny Day in Colorado

READ MORE: Chopping Lines, Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins, MLB Betting

3:00 p.m

Florida Marlins (57-52)

Colorado Rockies (41-69)

Best Line: Rockies +165

Last night Dontrelle Willis pitched a gem, allowing four hits and no runs, for his 15th win of the season against the Cincinnati Reds last night. However, the for the road weary Marlins this will be the 14th of 20 consecutive days on which the Marlins will be playing. Monday originally was scheduled as an off day, but had to be used for a pair of make-up games against the Rockies. The Rockies have won five of seven, and are coming off a 4-2 road trip. However, Colorado is returning home following Sunday’s 9-4 loss at Arizona.

Sunny Kim (1-2, 6.14 ERA) was acquired off waivers from Washington on Friday. Kim will make his Rockies debut in game one of the double-header. He pitched well in two starts for the Nationals but did not get a decision in either, allowing a combined three runs and eight hits in 9 2-3 innings. His only win of the season came in his lone appearance against Florida, throwing 3 1-3 scoreless innings of relief in Washington’s 7-3 victory on June 4.

Josh Beckett (10-6, 3.51 ERA) gave up four hits, four earned runs, and two walks while striking out five in 6 1/3 innings on Wednesday. Beckett got a no decision in Wednesday’s 9-6 loss at St. Louis. He gave up four runs and four hits in 6 1-3 innings. Beckett is 2-0 since coming off the 15-day disabled list due to a strained left stomach muscle. In his last three starts, he has a 4.43 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 9.84 strikeouts per nine innings. The right-hander has gone at least six innings in all three starts since coming off the disabled list. He won the first two outings and did not get a decision Beckett has faced the Rockies twice this year and won both times, allowing a total of three runs - two earned - and striking out 11 in 13 innings. He’s 3-3 with a 4.02 ERA against Colorado.

PICK! Colorado Rockies +165

Chopping Lines: They Might Be Giants

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10:15 pm

Colorado (38-67, B Kim)

San Francisco (45-60, B. Hennessey)

Best Line: San Francisco Giants -140

The Giants learned earlier this week that they would be without Barry Bonds for the remainder of the year and will use Randy Winn in his stead. Colorado beat the Giants last night 4-3 for a rare road victory. Colorado is a league leading cash burner on the road with an 11-40 mark and had lost 12 straight contests away from home against NL West opponents before last night. Colorado has only won one road series this year against the Nationals in July.

Right-handed pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim (2-8, 5.36 ERA) will attempt to win his third game for the Rockies and his first win against the National League this year. Kim is winless since June 24. In has last outing he gave up five runs and eight hits over 6 2-3 innings on Thursday in an 8-5 loss to Philadelphia. In 26 career games against the Giants, Kim is 1-3 with five saves. The lone bright spot for Kim is that he has held Giants INF Edgardo Alfonso hitless in 10 career at-bats.

After having a solid July pitching, Brad Hennessey (4-3, 4.96 ERA) starts his August against the worst road team in Baseball. It only took San Francisco pitcher Brad Hennessey 16 career starts to notch his first major league homer. Hennessey’s three run shot with two outs in the fifth inning against the Brewers ended Victor Santos’ no-no bid, and gave Hennessey the 3-0 win. The Giants’ line up is not in great shape; Marquis Grissom was designated for assignment to clear roster space for Randy Winn. Barry Bonds wont be back this year and Catcher Mike Matheny went on the bereavement list. Then, the club lost cleanup hitter Moises Alou last night for at least two games.

PICK! San Francisco Giants -150

Chopping Lines: It’s Brett Myers Day in Colorado

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5:05 pm

Philadelphia Phillies (53-50, B. Myers) at Colorado Rockies (36-65, J. Acevedo)

Best Line: Phillies -160

The Phillies managed to overcome a three game sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros and win last night at Coors Field. The first of a four game series, the Phillies took the lead in the top of the ninth winning 8-5. The Phillies hope that they can continue to take advantage of the absence of Colorado Rockies slugger 1B Todd Helton and finally provide runs behind Brett Myers.
Brett Myers (8-5, 3.24) has been consistent for the Phillies this year but has been a victim of poor run support. Over his last five games, Myers is 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA, but his away record stands at 2-4 in nine starts. Myers has been a cash burner away from home. His last five games Myers lost the last three games despite his 2.54 ERA. Today, the thin air should help the trend of ailing run support for Myers on the road. Against the Rockies, Myers is 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA. The two times he’s pitched at Coors he is 2-0 with a 4.15 ERA.

Colorado Rockies right handed pitcher Jose Acevedo (2-0, 4.05 ERA) will replace Shawn Chacon today. Chacon got baseball’s equivalent of a new life yesterday; a trade to the Bronx for minor leaguers rhp Ramon Ramirez and rhp Eduardo Sierra. With Colorado, Chacon went 1-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 12 starts and one relief appearance so either the prospects are not good or Chacon is saving his stuff for the Stadium. Acevedo comes off short rest (he pitched in Monday’s win against the Mets) and despite pitching well enough to win his last two outings, it will be hard for him to keep the Phillies’ bats quiet. In four lifetime appearances against the Phillies his ERA ballooned to 7.16.

PICK! PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES -160

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