Kenta Maeda is great again. And he’ll continue his solid form when the Los Angeles Dodgers give him the ball in the series finale against the Colorado Rockies. Will Maeda go Godzilla on the Rockies’ lineup? OR will Carlos Gonzalez and company rock him hard? Read on for a breakdown of this game. Also check out our preview of Cubs vs. Phillies.
Chris Rusin isn’t having a good season so far. You could easily tell that based on his 1-4 record and a 4.62 ERA.
Rusin most recently pitched against San Diego on June 3, which ended with the Rockies losing, 4-0. Rusin went seven innings long in that game, allowing three runs on just four hits. The Padres’ three runs, however, came in the first inning before Rusin settled down and took better control of his pitches. While Rusin hasn’t started against the Dodgers this season, he did have one relief appearance opposite LA. That was in a 12-10 loss to the Dodgers on April 24, wherein Rusin took the mound for 3.1 innings, allowing a hit and issuing three walks.
It’s hard to trust Rusin right now so the Rockies’ offense will have to show up later tonight. Colorado is fifth in the majors in runs, third in batting average, and seventh in on-base percentage. The tandem of Nolan Arenado and Carlos Gonzales has been on a merciless tear of late, combining for four home runs and 17 RBI over Colorado’s past six games.
The under is 6-4 in Rusin’s last 10 starts.
Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers
Kenta Maeda is getting back to top form. After seeing his ERA rise to 3.29 last May, it has now subsided to 2.84 after recording back-to-back wins.
Over his last two starts, Maeda has allowed only one earned run on eight hits across 11.1 innings. It also helped him that the Dodgers were able to compile 13 total runs in those two outings. Thus far this season, Maeda is getting 4.26 runs support per nine innings.
Maeda arguably had his best performance of his young MLB career against Colorado on April 23, when he pitched for 6.1 innings, blanking the Rockies and allowing just three hits while recording eight strikeouts in a 4-1 road win.
Backing Maeda is the Dodgers’ offense that is getting huge contribution from Corey Seager. The shortstop has been unconscious at the plate lately, going 10-for-24 with six home runs and 11 RBI over his last seven games. With Yasiel Puig on the disabled list, the Dodgers are going to deploy Trayce Thompson on the outfield. Thompson is 5-for-17 with two doubles and two homers in his last seven outings.
The over is 4-1 in Thompson’s last five starts overall.
