The MLB betting action goes on with an 11-game Thursday card, so we are taking a closer look at the National League showdown from Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, to get you the best Braves vs. Rockies betting pick and odds.  

The reigning champions meet the Rockies for the first time in 2022. They start a four-game series at Coors Field, and Atlanta opens as a -135 moneyline favorite. Colorado is a home dog at +125, while the totals are listed at 11.0 runs on BetOnline Sportsbook. 

The Braves continue with their disappointing performance                        

Wednesday’s games have been excluded from the analysis, and the 23-27 Braves were trying to avoid a sweep in a three-game road series against the Diamondbacks. They’ve lost the previous two games in Arizona 7-6 in ten innings and 6-2, and both starters, Charlie Morton and Spencer Strider, have struggled on the mound. 

The Braves’ pitching staff has amassed an underwhelming 4.41 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and .251 batting average against over the last couple of weeks. Ian Anderson will toe the slab at Coors Field on Thursday, and the 24-year-old righty has allowed four earned runs in each of his last two starts. 

Anderson has struggled with control all season, tallying 23 free passes in 47.2 innings of work. He’s 3-3 with a 4.34 ERA, 4.71 FIP, 1.34 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts in nine starts in 2022. The Braves’ bullpen holds a 3.40 ERA and 2.98 FIP, leading the majors in WAR with 3.0 while punching out 10.6 per nine frames. 

The Rockies can hit at home                       

At the time of writing, the 22-26 Colorado Rockies were 5-0 down and hitless after the first five innings of the first game of Wednesday’s twin bill against Miami. They beat the Marlins 7-1 last Tuesday, accounting for ten hits on the night. 

The Rockies are awful on the road as usual (89 OPS+), but they are slashing .284/.351/.449 at Coors Field (126 OPS+). On the other hand, their pitching staff has a 4.54 ERA and 1.39 WHIP at home, while the Rockies’ bullpen is at 5.04 ERA and 4.26 FIP for the season. 

Austin Gomber will toe the rubber Thursday, looking to bounce back from his last outing. The 28-year-old lefty gave up a thumping eight earned runs while getting just four outs in a 13-7 defeat at Washington this past Saturday. Gomber is now 2-5 with a pedestrian 5.51 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in nine starts (47.1 innings) in 2022. 

Trends:

Atlanta: 

  • 4-2 in Ian Anderson’s last six starts   

Colorado:

  • 5-10 in the last 15 games overall 
  • 1-5 in Austin Gomber’s last six starts 

Atlanta Braves vs. Colorado Rockies Pick 

The starting pitchers could easily struggle in this game, so I’m backing the Braves to win because of their bullpen. Also, the Braves’ lineup is doing a good job against the lefties, tallying a .242/.326/.434 slash line and a 117 OPS+. 

On the other side, the Rockies are slashing .249/.314/.383 against the righties this season, but they also own a .389/.444/.778 triple-slash in 14 at-bats against Ian Anderson. 

Pick: Take Atlanta Braves at -135                            

The Total:

The line has been set sky-high at 11 runs. The bookies expect the same as I do — Ian Anderson and Austin Gombert will allow a few early runs each, and you never know what can happen when the Rockies ‘pen takes over.  

Four of the last six encounters between the Braves and Rockies at Coors Field have produced at least 11 runs in the total. The over is 11-6 in Colorado’s previous 17 outings at home. 

Pick: Go over 11.0 runs at +100