The Colorado Rockies (19-21) open a 7-game road trip Monday with the first of 3 games against the Pittsburgh Pirates (16-24). First pitch is 6:35 p.m. ET at PNC Park. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Rockies vs. Pirates odds with MLB picks and predictions.
This is the first meeting this season between the two teams.
The Rockies just wrapped up a 9-game homestand and went only 3-6. They won just 1 game in each series and were shutout 2-0 by the New York Mets Sunday.
The Pirates were swept by the St. Louis Cardinals in a 3-game home series over the weekend, and have lost 7 of their last 10 games. Pittsburgh lost the series finale 18-4 Sunday.
Rockies at Pirates projected starters
RHP Chad Kuhl vs. RHP JT Brubaker
Kuhl (3-2, 3.86 ERA) makes his 8th start. He has a 1.18 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 7.2 K/9 through 37 1/3 IP.
Faces the Pirates for the first time in his career after pitching for them from 2016-2021. Got knocked around in his last 2 starts, both against the San Francisco Giants, as he allowed 10 earned runs in 7 2/3 innings pitched. He is 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA excluding those two outings.Brubaker (0-4, 5.50 ERA) makes his 9th start. He has a 1.42 WHIP, 4.8 BB/9 and 10.8 K/9 through 36 IP.
The Pirates are 3-5 in his starts. Has lost 13 of his last 14 decisions dating back to last season. The Pirates have not scored any runs in his last 2 starts.Rockies at Pirates odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:20 a.m. ET.
Money line (ML): Rockies +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Pirates -140 (bet $140 to win $100) Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rockies +1.5 (-190) | Pirates -1.5 (+155) Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10 or more, get $200 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Let’s make this interesting. Bet now!
Rockies at Pirates picks and predictions
Prediction
Rockies 5, Pirates 1
Money line
The Rockies are 5-10 on the road this season and have dropped 9 of their last 10 road games. However, they face a Pittsburgh squad that has been shut out the last 2 of Brubaker’s starts.
The Pirates have lost 7 of their last 10 games and have scored 1 or 0 runs in 4 of those games.
Kuhl has not fared well in his last 2 starts but those were against a very good Giants team. He was unbeaten and had an ERA of 1.82 before those starts.
Expect him and the Rockies to pick up a win in the opener.
Take the ROCKIES (+115).
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Run line/Against the spread
The Rockies are the worst road team in baseball against the spread. They are 5-10 ATS on the road.
The Pirates are 11-11 ATS at home but 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games.
All 5 losses of the Pirates’ losses with Brubaker starting have been by at least 3 runs.
I expect the Rockies to cover the spread tonight, but I don’t like the price. Better to stick with the money line bet and PASS here.
Over/Under
The last 2 of Kuhl’s starts had totals of 8 or more runs, but only one of his first 5 did.
Brubaker’s last 2 contests and 4 of his 8 starts have had totals of 7 or fewer runs.
I expect a good start by Kuhl and the Rockies to get a few runs off Brubaker but not enough to get the total to 8.
Take UNDER 7.5 (-107).
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