MLB Odds, Preview, Prediction for Rockies vs. Dodgers: Can Colorado Get to David Price? (July 23)

MLB Odds, Preview, Prediction for Rockies vs. Dodgers: Can Colorado Get to David Price? (July 23) article feature image
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Michael Owens/Getty Images. Pictured: David Price.

  • The Dodgers look to bounce back from a series loss to the Giants during their three-game series with the lowly Rockies.
  • Colorado has struggled mightily away from Coors Field and will go up against David Price, who has been solid of late.
  • Kenny Ducey breaks down the matchup and how bettors should go about backing the Dodgers.

Rockies vs. Dodgers Odds

Rockies Odds+230
Dodgers Odds-290
Over/Under9
TimeFriday, 10:10 p.m. ET
TVMLB.TV
Odds as of Friday and via PointsBet

The Dodgers need a win in a bad way after failing to secure even a split against the Giants, and they'll have their sights set on taking out their anger against the Colorado Rockies.

With a huge gap between the two pitchers, is it worth backing Los Angeles, even with all its issues on offense and absences?

Let's take a look at the matchup.

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies have really picked things up of late with four wins in their last seven, including a couple of victories on the road, where things have been tough for them this year.

While Colorado is normally pretty bad away from Coors Field, a 60 wRC+ is especially bad, even for their standards. That's what made two wins in San Diego shocking, though it should be noted the Rockies scored a combined eight runs in that four-game set.

Still, with a couple more wins at home — and one against the Dodgers — the Rockies will probably come into this one with confidence on offense. That's good, because they will need many runs with Chi Chi González on the mound.

The righty has been a special kind of bad with a 6.72 xERA to rank fifth-worst among qualified pitchers and a .312 expected batting average to rank second-to-last.

González's biggest issue is that his fastball, which he throws 47% of the time, has been hammered. At 92 mph, he's left far too many up and over the plate which have crushed to the tune of a .338 average with seven homers. That equates to a .403 wOBA, and he hasn't found much joy in his slider, either, which has yielded five homers in half as many pitches and a .406 wOBA. This is troubling, even against a Dodgers lineup that has underwhelmed.

Los Angeles Dodgers

It's been a bit of a struggle offensively for the Dodgers, who have enjoyed a few great nights at the plate over the last few weeks but have struggled to consistently find runs. To make matters worse, now Kenley Jansen has started to struggle again, blowing two games against division rival San Francisco earlier this week. After losing three of four, the Dodgers should come out swinging here against González.

Still, there could be a cap to how many runs the defending champions can score. Mookie Betts is still day to day, nursing a hip injury, while Gavin Lux is on the shelf with a hamstring issue and Max Muncy's off on paternity leave.

L.A.'s bench will be stretched thin once again, with guys like Billy McKinney and Albert Pujols surely forced into action. This isn't a very imposing lineup at the moment, particularly with Cody Bellinger slumping and Corey Seager still out, but luckily the matchup isn't a tough one.

The Dodgers will roll with David Price again here as he works his way into the rotation. Judging by what the lefty said, he should see an increased pitch count on Friday.

With the way the Dodgers bullpen (Jansen aside) has pitched, it's not super necessary, but it surely is an added bonus with how effective he's been. Price has given up just one run in his last five appearances, spanning 12 innings, which came in his last start at Coors Field. He struck out four Rockies and gave up just two hits. He's feeling it.

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Rockies-Dodgers Pick

It's really difficult to find a bet here, given the fact that the price is so exorbitant, but there's no way I'm touching anything Rockies-related with González on the hill. There's certainly some merit here to the Colorado offense against a lefty — a split they rank fourth in judging by batting average — but away from home the runs should be scarce.

I'm going to back the Dodgers offense and Price here at reasonable odds on the run line.

Pick: Dodgers -1.5 (-140)

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