Major League Baseball is finally back, and the World Series champs are back in action. Now that the regular season is here, let's continue our MLB odds series and make a Dodgers-Rockies prediction and more.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will begin their title defense in Colorado as they take on the Rockies in Coors Field.
The Dodgers posted a solid Spring Training record, finishing on back to back wins to earn a record of 13-11.
The Rockies weren't too shabby themselves, going .500 and mimicking the Dodgers finish by ending the warm-up on a two-game win streak.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Dodgers-Rockies odds.
MLB Odds: Dodgers-Rockies Odds
Los Angeles Dodgers ML (-210)
Colorado Rockies ML (+190)
Over 11.5 Runs (-115)
Under 11.5 Runs (-105)
Why The Dodgers Could Win This Game
Personnel-wise, there's very few teams in the league that can match the Dodgers mighty roster.
Los Angeles should be at full health to start the season, which is bad news for any opponent. There is no real weak spot in the Dodgers lineup.
From Mookie Betts to Cody Bellinger to Justin Turner to World Series hero Corey Seager, the top of the Dodgers lineup is the stuff of nightmares for opposing pitchers.
Seager has been particularly impressive in the lead-up to the season. The shortstop was red-hot all spring-training, hitting a whopping eight homers and batting .346 in 22 games.
In a hitter-friendly park like Coors Field, it'd be a shocker to not see the champs send some balls flying today. If they can get to the bullpen by the 5th or 6th inning, this one is going to get ugly.
Pitching wise, Clayton Kershaw takes the ball for his ninth Opening Day start. The Dodgers ace has been absolutely brilliant on the first day of the season, posting a career mark of 5-1 with a 1.05 ERA.
Kershaw had a very solid under the radar season last year. He posted a record of 6-2 with an ERA of only 2.16 in 10 games, showing the world that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
The lefty should be primed to prove the doubters wrong once again, but the Dodgers are unlikely to push him. The most likely outcome is that he goes around six solid innings.
Why The Rockies Could Win This Game
The Rockies are seriously outgunned here, but it'd be a mistake to dismiss them right off the bat.
Colorado will hand the ball to Germàn Marquez, who has a pretty solid track record against the Dodgers.
In total, he's faced these Dodgers batters 134 times, and held them to a collective batting average of .234. The Rockies ace has only allowed five home runs to all players on the Dodgers current roster.
Marquez has pitched brilliantly against Seager and Bellinger in particular. Seager is only 2-11 off Marquez, while Bellinger is a woeful 3-24 lifetime against him.
It's unlikely that Marquez just shuts down this potent lineup in Coors Field day game, but it's certainly plausible he's not immediately rocked and can make it through five to six innings.
On the other side of the ball, the Rockies lineup faces off against a familiar foe.
Colorado has three players that have faced Kershaw 20+ times, and they haven't fared terribly against him. Charlie Blackmon is batting .286 off Kershaw in 63 PA, and has four homers off the ace. Trevor Story is hitting an impressive .300 in 20 appearances off Kershaw.
The path to victory today for Colorado is to hope Marquez can go six or seven strong, and depend on their big hitters to scratch across 4-5 runs. Then the Colorado faithful will have to hope the bullpen can hold on for dear life for a few innings.
Final Dodgers-Rockies Prediction & Pick
While Colorado has been able to touch up Kershaw a little in Coors Field, the Dodgers leader is still fairly strong in a park that destroys pitchers. Add this to the fact that the Dodgers have a serious offensive and bullpen advantage, and I'll give this win to the Dodgers. The World Series champs should come out looking to make a statement, and even if Colorado does manage to get to Kershaw, the Dodgers should have his back with their bats.
FINAL DODGERS-ROCKIES PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS ML (-210)
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