The 2022 MLB season goes on Saturday, June 4, with the National League showdown between Atlanta and Colorado, so we bring you the best Braves vs. Rockies betting pick along with the latest odds update on BetOnline Sportsbook.  

Atlanta and Colorado continue their four-game set at Coors Field in Denver with Game 3. The Braves dismantled the Rockies 13-6 as -150 road favorites in Thursday’s opener, while Friday night’s clash has been excluded from the analysis.  

The Braves hammered Colorado for their second straight win                         

The 25-27 Atlanta Braves were searching for their first three-game winning streak of the season on Friday night. Back on Thursday, Travis d’Arnaud mashed a couple of homers, including a grand slam, and the Braves finished the game with a whopping 18 hits. 

Atlanta lacks consistency and needs to improve on both sides of the ball. Even the Braves’ relievers, who lead the majors in WAR with 3.2, have had ups and downs through the first two months of the season. Atlanta’s bullpen has recorded a 3.67 ERA and 3.44 FIP in the last ten days. 

Spencer Strider will toe the slab Saturday at Coors Field, and he’s 1-2 with a 3.45 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 44/13 K/BB ratio across 28.2 innings of work in 2022. The 23-year-old flame-throwing righty got his first major-league start last Monday and took a loss in a 6-2 defeat at Arizona. He yielded five earned runs on four hits and two walks through 4.1 frames while punching out seven. 

The Rockies are struggling on the mound                        

Austin Gomber was obliterated for nine earned runs on ten hits across five innings of work in the opening game of this series. Ty Blach yielded four more in relief, as the Rockies’ pitching staff put on another abysmal performance. 

The 23-28 Rockies hold the second-highest ERA (5.34) and the highest WHIP (1.52) in the majors. At least, their offense had a .286/.355/.458 triple-slash at home, launching 35 home runs in 29 outings at Coors Field. 

Kyle Freeland (1-5) will get the nod Thursday, and the 29-year-old righty sports a pedestrian 4.96 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across 52.2 innings of work this season. Freeland has been awful for most of the time. He’s posted a 6.53 ERA and 4.60 FIP over his previous four appearances after yielding just one run through his first two starts in May. 

Trends:

Atlanta: 

  • 8-4 in the last 12 road games against Colorado   

Colorado:

  • 6-12 in the last 18 games overall 

Atlanta Braves vs. Colorado Rockies Pick 

Spencer Strider leans on his 4-seam fastball, which has a minus-4 run value. He throws it 72.5 percent of the time, so the talented righty should be in trouble at Coors Field. On the other side, Kyle Freeland is often in trouble regardless of the ballpark. The current Braves are slashing .338/.403/.640 with four home runs and two triples in 63 at-bats against Freeland. 

I was all over Atlanta in the opener, but Game 3 is a tricky one. The Braves should have enough firepower to outscore the Rockies. I hope Atlanta’s bullpen will make the difference, as the Rockies’ relievers have recorded a 6.81 ERA and 4.96 FIP in the last ten days and sit at 5.28 ERA and 4.28 FIP for the season. 

Pick: Take Atlanta Braves at -147                             

The Total:

With Spencer Strider and Kyle Freeland on the mound, the bookies set the line sky-high. You never know what can happen on a given day, but backing the over in this clash is a reasonable move despite a 12-run line. 

I’ve mentioned the Braves’ strong record against Freeland and the Rockies’ strong OPS at Coors Field. Keep your eyes on Dansby Swanson, who’s 7-for-12 with a home run and six RBIs versus Kyle Freeland. 

Pick: Go over 12.0 runs at -115