Colorado Rockies (6-14) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (8-12)
April 22, 2023 4:05 pm EDT
The Line: Philadelphia Phillies -161 / Colorado Rockies +125; Over/Under: +9
(Get latest betting odds)
The Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies meet Saturday in MLB action from Citizens Bank Park. This will be the third installment in a four-game weekend series. Colorado took a shutout win in the opener, then on Friday the Phillies eked out a one-run victory to even it up. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies scored twice in both the first and sixth innings during the opener of this series, taking the win 5-0. On Friday Colorado scored all their runs in the first inning, posting four hits and two errors in a 4-3 defeat. Starter Noah Davis managed 4.2 innings, one earned, six hits and no walks.
For the starter job on Saturday the Rockies will go with Kyle Freeland. Over four starts this year Freeland is 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA and 12 Ks in 21.1 innings. Freeland is 51-52 with a 4.26 ERA in 159 career games (154 starts).
Philadelphia Phillies
Over on the Phillies’ side, they couldn’t get anything going on six team hits in the Thursday opener. In game two the Phillies bagged nine team hits in the comeback victory. Aaron Nola put up 7.0 innings in the start with three earned, four hits and three walks.
As the game three starting pitcher, it’ll be Christopher Sanchez. This will be Sanchez’s season debut. In 22 career games (four starts), Sanchez is 3-2 with a 5.47 ERA and 48 Ks in 52.2 total frames.
The Rockies are 19-39 in the last 58 in game three of a series and 26-60 in their last 86 road games. Colorado is 0-5 in their last five Saturday games.
Meanwhile, the Phillies are 10-1 in their last 11 at home versus a lefty starter and 1-4 in their last five Saturday games. Philadelphia is 1-5 in their last six in game three of a series.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll take a stab on Colorado in this one. Freeland needs a bounce-back start, though. He’s coming off a rough outing versus the Pirates on April 17, coughing up seven earned on eight hits and a walk in 2.2 innings during a loss. Freeland had just two earned over his previous 12.2 combined innings, however. On Friday the Rockies had a great first inning (thanks mostly to Ryan McMahon) but went completely flat afterward. The offense will need a bounce-back effort just like Freeland, but I think game two will go better for the Rockies overall.
