The Colorado Rockies (43-56, 10-36 away) face off against the Los Angeles Angels (49-49, 27-22 home) in a three-game interleague series beginning Monday night in California. This will be the only time the two teams take on each other this year.
First pitch of Monday’s ballgame is slated for 9:35 p.m. EST at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, CA. According to oddsmakers, the Angels (-155) are the favorites in the matchup, and the run total is 8.
What to Know – Colorado Rockies
Colorado sits well outside the playoff picture and has gone 3-5 over the first eight games since the All-Star break. The Rockies had a rare road victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night but failed to continue the momentum into the weekend, suffering a pair of losses. Colorado enters Monday fourth in the National League West and 19 games back of the division-leading San Francisco Giants.
German Marquez (8-7, 3.50 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) is the expected starting pitcher for the Rockies. The 26-year old has logged 118.1 innings on the mound this year, with 44 walks and 119 strikeouts. Marquez suffered a loss in his last start, tossing six innings while surrendering four earned runs on seven hits, two walks, and five strikeouts in a 6-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
Boosted by their home-field advantage, the Rockies boast one of the better hitting lineups in the majors with a .243 team batting average and .311 on-base percentage. Both of those numbers rank near the top-10 in the league. Second baseman Ryan McMahon is Colorado’s top hitter, leading the Rockies in home runs (16), runs batted in (50), and second in runs scored (54).
What to Know – Los Angeles Angels
After 1-4 start over their first five games of the second half, the Angels have won three of their last four, including a pair this weekend over the Minnesota Twins. The Angels are also on the outside looking in at the playoff picture. Los Angeles is fourth in the American League West, 11 games behind the Houston Astros.
All-Star Shohei Ohtani (4-1, 3.21 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) is penciled in for the start for the hosts. Ohtani has been one of the biggest news stories this season with his two-way play and success both on the mound and at the plate. The star was electric in his last trip to the mound, shutting out the Athletics over six innings, scattering three hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in a no-decision.
Los Angeles ranks third in the majors in batting average and tenth in runs scored. The Halos offense has been without the services of outfielder Mike Trout since mid-May. Ohtani leads the majors with 35 home runs and is tied for third with 75 RBIs.
The Pick is In
The Rockies are a disaster on the road, sporting the worst record in the MLB. Colorado sends out their staff ace in the series opener to face one of the top-hitting lineups in the MLB. Ohtani should own Colorado’s lineup and help push the Halos winning streak to three games.
The Pick: Los Angeles Angels ML
