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It's Opening Day as the Los Angeles Dodgers head to Coors Field to take on the Colorado Rockies on Friday afternoon. It's time to continue our MLB odds series with a Dodgers-Rockies prediction and pick.
The Dodgers went 106-56 last season, entering the playoffs as a wildcard. In the NL Wildcard Game, the Dodgers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals to advance to the NL Division Series. Then, the Dodgers conquered their hated rivals, the San Francisco Giants, eliminating them in five games. Ultimately, they lost to the Atlanta Braves in six games in the NLCS. Now, the Dodgers will try and win the NL West for the ninth season in a row and make it back to the World Series. They added Freddie Freeman to their roster, stealing him from the team that eliminated them. Additionally, the Dodgers possess superior pitching. Clayton Kershaw returned to the Dodgers on a one-year deal. Of course, Walker Buehler is the ace for the Dodgers. He anchors a pitching staff that possessed the best ERA in the majors.
The Rockies stumbled last season, finishing 74-87 and fourth in the NL West. Kyle Freeland went 7-8 last season with a 4.33 ERA. The pitching staff had a 4.82 ERA, finishing 25th in baseball. Lucas Gilbreath was the lone bright spot on the roster. He went 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 47 appearances. However, Colorado hits the ball well. CJ Cron slugged 28 home runs with 92 RBIs in 2021. Additionally, Ryan McMahon added 23 home runs with 86 RBIs. The Rockies will need a blend of pitching and hitting to contend.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Dodgers-Rockies MLB odds:
MLB Odds: Dodgers-Rockies Odds
Dodgers: -1.5 (-140)
Rockies: +1.5 (+116)
Over: 11.5 (-110)
Under: 11.5 (-110)
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Why The Dodgers Could Cover The Spread
Los Angeles has dominated Colorado in recent memory. The Dodgers went 13-6 against the Rockies last season, including a 6-3 record at Coors Field. Additionally, the Dodgers have gone 57-30 over 87 games against the Rockies. Often, the Dodgers beat the Rockies with a spectacular offense and stellar pitching.
Freeman joins a lineup that includes Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger, and Mookie Betts. Thus, the Dodgers possess the firepower to rip apart the Rockies and their pitching staff. However, Los Angeles needs Buehler to excel. He went 1-0 in three starts against the Rockies last season. He pitched well in the first two starts, giving up two earned runs in each. Conversely, the Rockies pounded him for five runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings in the third start. Buehler must replicate the first two performances and avoid the letdown. Likewise, the bullpen must hold its ground and now allow the Colorado hitters to obliterate them late in the game.
The Dodgers could cover the spread if Buehler performs strongly, if the bats heat up, and if the bullpen can hold the fort. Buehler will probably be on a pitch count, and the bullpen will play a role in the sixth and seventh inning.
Why the Rockies Could Cover The Spread
Colorado is 16-13 all-time in home openers. They overcame the Dodgers on Opening Day last season. Now, the Rockies hope to repeat history. Freeland will be the cog to the ignition. He went 1-2 with a 3.24 ERA against the Dodgers last season. Freeland is 3-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 16 career starts against Los Angeles. He needs to find his rhythm and keep the Dodgers hitters off balance. Also, he needs his defense to support him.
McMahon was a breakout defensive star last season at third base, stopping almost everything near him. He can play multiple positions and is the best defensive player on the Rockies. Cron improved his defense and will need to be stellar, especially against the left-handed bats the Dodgers possess. In addition to pitching and defense, the Rockies have to strike early against Buehler. When the Rockies pounded Buehler in their September 22, 2021 victory, they did so by being patient at the plate and finding their opportunities. Likewise, they have to catch the Dodgers' ace off-balance and turn this into a bullpen game early
The Rockies could cover the spread if Freeland pitches well, the defense steps up, and the bats get hot against Buehler. Colorado has the tools to shock Los Angeles on Opening Day.
Final Dodgers-Rockies Prediction & Pick
Last season, the Rockies hosted the Dodgers on Opening Day. The Rockies won the game 8-5. On April 5, 2019, the Rockies hosted the Dodgers and lost 10-6. The common theme is scoring. The Dodgers and Rockies are playing Opening Day in the afternoon. The ball might fly farther than it usually would in a day game. Also, these teams scored plenty of runs in many games against each other last season. However, Buehler is a different pitcher than Kershaw and will look to make a statement against a team that burned him in his previous outing. Yes, the Dodgers did lose 10-5 in that game. However, Buehler wants to avenge that game, and Freeman is not a great choice for an Opening Day starter.
Final Dodgers-Rockies Prediction & Pick: Dodgers -1.5 (-140)
