The Atlanta Braves try to avoid a fourth straight loss when they face the Colorado Rockies in the first of a four-game weekend series on Thursday night. The first pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 8:40 p.m. ET at Coors Field in Denver.
The Braves are coming off a three-game sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers, dropping them to 70-62. Atlanta is on top of the National League East standings, leading the second-place Philadelphia Phillies by two games and the third-place New York Mets by five games.
Colorado salvaged the last of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers 9-5 on Wednesday night, snapping a two-game losing streak. The Rockies are 61-72 and in fourth place in the NL West, 9½ games behind the third-place San Diego Padres.
If you are betting online on this game, the MLB lines have the Braves with a moneyline of -155, while the Rockies are listed at +140, with the over/under set at 12½ runs.
Learning Experience
The Braves have lost three straight games for the first time since June and dropped a road series for the first time since July 5-7 at Pittsburgh. Still, Atlanta is feeling confident about its chances to make the postseason and is hoping the series loss to the Dodgers isn’t something that repeats itself in a few weeks.
“We just didn’t hit consistently enough to give ourselves a chance, but we pitched the ball pretty freaking great,” Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson said after Wednesday’s loss. “There were a lot of good things from the series, and I feel like this was a really, really good experience for us because this is what it’s going to be like for us come the end of the season and the playoffs. Just glad to go through it at the end of August and not October.”
Swanson hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth to give the Braves a 3-2 lead, but Los Angeles responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to get the win. Swanson’s home run was his 26th but just his second in the last 14 games.
Right-hander Touki Toussaint will be on the mound to start the series for Atlanta. The 25-year-old is 3-2 with a 3.60 ERA in seven starts and eight appearances.
Toussaint’s last outing was an inning of scoreless relief against San Francisco on Sunday. He picked up wins in his last two starts, including a victory over Baltimore on Aug. 22 in which he allowed just one run in 5.1 innings.
Sporadic Starter
The Rockies will start right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez in Thursday’s series opener. The 29-year-old is 3-6 with a 6.08 ERA, making 16 starts and 21 total appearances.
Gonzalez has made just one start since July 23, going three innings against San Diego on Aug. 18 and allowing three runs on four hits, including a home run. He also pitched an inning of relief in a 10-inning victory over the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 25, giving up an unearned run.
Second baseman Brendan Rodgers had a big game in Wednesday’s win over Texas, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Rodgers batted .295 with eight doubles, a home run and nine RBIs in August.
First baseman C.J. Cron was 0-for-5 on Wednesday after an outstanding month of August that saw him hit .387 with eight doubles, 11 home runs and 34 RBIs. He had a five-game hit streak ended with Wednesday’s hitless performance.
Series Outlook
These two teams have yet to meet this season, but they’ll see each other again in Atlanta for three games one week after this series concludes. The Braves are 37-30 on the road while the Rockies are 43-22 at home.
Huascar Ynoa (4-4, 2.90 ERA) will get the start for Atlanta on Friday, followed by Ian Anderson (6-5, 3.36) and Charlie Morton (12-5, 3.52) on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Colorado will counter with Antonio Senzatela (3-9, 4.18), followed by German Marquez (11-10, 4.10) and Austin Gomber (9-9, 4.53).
The MLB series prices for this four-game set have the Braves at -155, while the Rockies are listed at +125.
Braves Win Opener
Although Colorado is very good at home, the Braves are in need of a win to stave off the streaking Phillies and Mets. Atlanta should be able to outscore the Rockies to get the opening victory of the series.
When making your MLB picks, take Atlanta to win on the road.
