My one Tuesday loser was the free play on the Orioles. Kind of a strange game early on, as both Baltimore and the Rays squandered big inning opportunities, with Jake Odorizzi in particular leading a bit of a charmed life. The key play was a Kevin Kiermaier homer on what figured to be the last batter Ubaldo Jimenez faced before calling it a night. Here’s the Wednesday comp.
PIRATES (Niese) @ ROCKIES (Gray)
Take: ROCKIES +107
The Pirates are starting to rake, and Pittsburgh fans have to be thrilled at the breakout night enjoyed on Tuesday by Andrew McCutchen. There’s no question about which team is superior here, as the Bucs are likely playoff contenders yet again, while the Rockies will probably be lucky to win 70 games.
Nevertheless, I’ll be on the Rockies tonight. I liked what I saw from emerging righty Jonathan Gray in his first start of the season, even though he gave up a bunch of runs in his five innings of work. But Gray flashed some dominant stuff along the way, and I like his chances of getting me some good innings tonight, even against the potent Pirates.
Jon Niese is throwing more fastballs than in the past, and that is likely due to now working with pitching guru Ray Searage, who’s one of the best in the business. Searage builds on strengths and based on the mix of two and four-seamers Niese is featuring, it looks like the coach feels that’s the best way for Niese to attack the opposition. But the lefty has put up rather pedestrian numbers thus far, he’s in a ballpark that hasn’t exactly been a haven for him previously, and I would expect Colorado to have some success with the sticks tonight.
The Pittsburgh bullpen did well on Tuesday night, but that unit has been surprisingly porous so far this season, so what should look like a commanding edge over what Colorado has to offer isn’t that lopsided right now.
I made the Rockies -112 for this game, and they’re catching close to that as a home underdog. That’s not spectacular value. But when I can catch what I think is an edge and it also happens to be in direct opposition to what will be the public betting side, I don’t have a problem making the play. Put me down for a call on the Rockies to get this one.
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