The Colorado Rockies (33-43) are just downright awful this year, as they find themselves rock bottom of the NL West. After losing to the Oakland A’s to open their three-game series, Jorge De La Rosa will look to give their fans something to cheer about as he gets the ball for Game 2. That’s going to be easier said than done, however, with the hard-hitting Oakland A’s (35-44) looking to score their second win in a row.
In another interleague matchup, the White Sox will attempts to put the clamps on the streaking Cards later tonight. Click here for a full preview of that game.
Colorado Rockies vs. Oakland Athletics Preview
Where: O.co Coliseum, Oakland
When: Tuesday, June 30, 2015, 10:05 PM ET
Line: Colorado Rockies (+165) vs. Oakland Athletics (-185); total: 7.0 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Colorado Rockies
If you want to look for reasons why Colorado sucks, then its rotation is a good place to start. There you’ll find a starting staff that ranks worst in the majors in ERA (4.94), FIP (4.49), WHIP (1.47), and in opponents’ batting average (.275).
Jorge De La Rosa can’t change those numbers dramatically when he gets the ball later tonight against the A’s, but he can do his own stats a big favor if he continues to pitch like he did in his last start. De La Rosa, who is 4-3 with a 5.15 ERA thus far this year, allowed just one run on four hits in five innings in the Rockies’ 6-4 win over Arizona last Thursday. Although he left the game early because of a cut in his left middle finger, De La Rosa seems to be ready to go against the A’s, per the Denver Post. The Rockies are 6-1 in De La Rosa’s last seven starts overall.
While pitching is a huge problem for Colorado, its offense, meanwhile, is its best asset. The Rockies are third in MLB in batting average (.270) and second in slugging percentage (.437). However, don’t expect them to be as prolific at the plate when away from the hitter-friendly Coors Field. In fact, the Rockies are just 20th overall in road batting average (.241) and 22nd in runs per game on the road (3.67).
A much better outing is something Sonny Gray is looking to have later tonight when he gets the ball for the last game of a two-game set against the visiting Rockies.
Gray is coming off a not-so-sunny performance against Texas last Thursday. He picked up a no-decision as he gave up three earned runs on nine hits in six innings of work in an A’s 6-3 win. It was better, though, than his previous start on June 19, when he yielded five earned runs on five hits in Oakland’s 12-7 loss to the Angels. Notwithstanding those pair of letdown performances, Gray still is a pitcher to reckon with. Gray enters the game later tonight with a 9-3 record and a superb 2.09 ERA, which is first in the American League.
On offense, the A’s are going to count on the likes of Stephen Vogt and Ben Zobrist to deliver the goods at the plate. Vogt has been playing out of his usual catcher role of late because of a wrist injury, but he’ll be in uniform as the team’s designated hitter. He is batting .364 (8-for-22) over his last five games. Zobrist, on the other hand, is .350 (7-for-20) with a homer, five RBIs, and six walks in his past six games. He is 2-for-2 (single, double) in his career against De La Rosa.
