MLB Free Pick: Athletics vs Rockies
Scott Morris | July 27, 2018
The Oakland Athletics have won six straight as they open a weekend interleague series on Friday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The A’s offense has been carrying the team to victory and they hope for more of the same in Friday’s opener.
The current line has Colorado slightly favored at -115, while Oakland is -105 and the run total is 11.5.
The A’s beat the Texas Rangers on Thursday 7-6 to complete a sweep of their four-game series against their American League West rivals. In those four games, the A’s scored 41 runs and have scored 51 during their six-game winning streak.
In Thursday’s win Matt Chapman collected three hits including a home run. The A’s lead all of baseball in home runs on the road with 96 and hope to hit several more over the weekend while playing at the friendly confines of Coors Field. Oakland slugger Khris Davis has six home runs in his last five games played.
The Rockies were off Thursday but avoided their third straight loss on Wednesday by defeating the Houston Astros 3-2, thanks to Charlie Blackmon’s walk-off home run in the ninth inning. The Rockies have won six out of their last seven and eight out of their last 10. Blackmon arrives at this series riding an eight-game hitting streak.
Colorado is currently two games behind first place Los Angeles in the National League West. Colorado acquired South Korean Seunghwan Oh from the Toronto Blue Jays. The 36-year old reliever was acquired in exchange for two players and one to be named later.
Oakland will start lefthander Sean Manaea, who is 9-6 with a 3.38 ERA. Manaea has not lost in nine straight starts while going 4-0 after a no-decision on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants. In that game, Manaea gave up just two runs and has allowed two runs or less in seven of his last nine starts. This is the first time Manaea will face the Rockies in his career.
Colorado will start Kyle Freeland. The lefthander is 8-6 with a 3.28 ERA. Freeland has not lost in seven straight starts after escaping on Saturday against Arizona with a no-decision, after giving up five hits and four runs while walking three in five innings. Freeland is 2-0 during his stretch of seven starts without a loss. This will be Freeland’s first time facing the A’s.
Prediction: The A’s are hitting the cover off the ball and playing at hitter-friendly Coors Field will mean plenty of hits with several flying out of the park. Oakland will score double digits in a 12-7 victory.
