9PM ET COL Rockies (+165) vs SD Padres (-195)
Tanner Gordon vs Martin Perez
The Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres face off Saturday in a key MLB matchup at Petco Park. After dropping the first game of the series, the Padres are looking to bounce back and assert their dominance. Let’s dive into the details and see why the Padres are well-positioned to take control early in this game.
On the Mound
The Rockies will send Tanner Gordon to the mound, who has struggled in his limited action this season. Gordon enters the game with a 0-3 record, an 8.80 ERA, and only 12 strikeouts. This will be his first career start against the Padres, and he will face a challenging lineup looking to make a statement, and crushes right-handed pitching.
On the other hand, Martin Perez will make his debut for the Padres. Although Perez has a 2-5 record and a 5.20 ERA this season, he has historically performed well against the Rockies. In his last five starts against Colorado, Perez is 2-2 with a solid 2.89 ERA and 23 strikeouts. His experience against the Rockies should provide an advantage, especially given their struggles against left-handed pitchers.
At the Plate
Leading the Rockies’ offensive charge is Ezequiel Tovar, who tops the team with 128 hits, including 31 doubles, 18 home runs, and 52 RBIs. Ryan McMahon and Brenton Doyle have also contributed significantly, combining for 34 home runs and over 100 RBIs.
Despite this recent success, the Rockies have been inconsistent. Historically, they have not sustained winning streaks, especially against tough divisional opponents. Moreover, the Rockies have lost six of their last seven road games against NL West opponents, highlighting their struggles away from home.
The Padres are aiming to rebound after their series-opening loss, which put their post-All-Star break success in jeopardy. San Diego has been one of the hottest teams in baseball, securing series wins against the Dodgers, Orioles, Nationals, and Guardians.
Offensively, the Padres have a lot of firepower. Jurickson Profar, who boasts a .304 batting average, 18 home runs, and 70 RBIs. Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado provide dangerous bats as well, but the team will be without Fernando Tatis Jr. due to injury. Despite this setback, the Padres have proven resilient, winning 10 of their last 11 night games after playing the previous day.
Best Bet
The Padres are poised for a strong performance in the early innings. With Tanner Gordon’s struggles on the mound and the Rockies' issues against left-handed pitching, San Diego is in a favorable position to take control early. Furthermore, the Padres have covered the run line in seven of their last eight games after playing the previous day, indicating their ability to rebound quickly from losses.
Conversely, the Rockies have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six road games against National League opponents following a road win. Their recent win against the Padres may be an outlier rather than a sign of consistent performance.
PICK: PADRES FIRST 5 -0.5 (-130)