Scott Spreitzer
4-Unit Play: Take 902 Rockies -140 over Mets (3:10 p.m., Thursday, June 21)
4-Unit Play: Take 918 Angels -150 over Blue Jays (10:05 p.m., Thursday, June 21)
I'm backing the Rockies on Thursday afternoon with Freeland over Matz. Colorado beat the Mets by a 10-8 score for the second game in a row and rookie Ryan McMahon had the big hit with a pinch-hit three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to give the Rockies a 9-8 lead that the bullpen held onto. Kyle Freeland is 6-6 this season, but he hasn't allowed more than three runs in nine of his last 10 starts. The left-hander has a 2.93 ERA at home with a .226 opponent batting average. New York batters are 3-for-27 against Freeland and he gave up two runs on four hits in seven innings in one appearance versus the Mets this year. The Mets have lost three of Steven Matz's last four starts although he hasn't gotten much run support. However, Colorado hitters have a combined .373 batting average against Matz in 59 at-bats and the Mets are 0-4 in Matz's last four starts against Colorado, which has won six of the last seven meetings. I'm backing the Rockies on Thursday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
I'm backing the Angels on Thursday night with Skaggs over Sanchez. The Angels took two of three from Toronto in May and now have won five of the last seven meetings and the Blue Jays are just 14-19 on the road this season. Toronto has lost seven road games in a row against left-handed starters and the Blue Jays have lost eight of their last nine road contests. Also, the Blue Jays are 4-17 their last 21 games versus southpaw starters overall. Toronto has lost nine of Aaron Sanchez's last 11 starts against teams with winning records. Sanchez is 3-3 with a 4.67 ERA on the road while Tyler Skaggs has won his last three starts and he has a sparkling 2.81 ERA on the season. Skaggs has allowed a total of one earned run with no homers his last three outings. Skaggs is 3-0 with a 0.45 ERA in June and Los Angeles has won six of its last seven home games versus right-handed starters. I'm backing the Angels on Thursday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.