Atlanta Braves at Colorado Rockies / MLB 2022 Predictions & Preview
The defending World Series champions, in need of an offensive injection, are in just the perfect place as they spend the weekend in Colorado to take on the Rockies.
For the Rockies, it’s about trying to put together any kind of consistent play that can lift them out of last place and salvage a disappointing season.
Atlanta Braves Overview
The Braves are only middle of the pack in terms of scoring runs this season, but that may change by the time their four-game series in Colorado is over.
In Thursday’s series opener, the Braves exploded for 13 runs – their first double-digit scoring game since the first week of the season on April 12.
The big hero of the night was catcher Travis d’Arnaud, who hit two home runs and drove in six runs. But there were six total Braves who collected multiple hits and eight different Braves who scored runs.
It was a good start to a long weekend and a cleansing way to come off their series loss at Arizona. It’s also an extra important weekend because the Mets are in Los Angeles facing the Dodgers, and if Atlanta can start a push to catch the first-place Mets, this is a good time to do so.
Although, in truth, winning the division looks like a tall order, down almost ten games in the standings on Friday. Making sure the Braves stay in the Wild Card race is the most important thing as the season moves toward the halfway mark.
Colorado Rockies Overview
It is not a great time to be a pitcher for the Colorado Rockies. Rarely has it been good, pitching in the rarified air of Colorado and in the wide-open spaces of Coors Field, but it has been especially tough this week.
The Marlins went into their series with the Rockies having scored four runs or less in 10 straight games. On Memorial Day, they were held to just one run, but in a doubleheader, on Wednesday, the Marlins scored 14 runs and 12 runs. That’s 26 runs scored in about six hours.
Add in the 13 runs that Colorado allowed to the Braves on Thursday, and it was a total of 39 runs allowed in three games and over a 30-hour period.
Double-digit runs allowed is something that has happened to the Rockies pitching in almost every series they play, and both at home and on the road. Prior to the Marlins series, the Rockies were at the Nationals. Washington won the second game, 13-7.
In Pittsburgh, before that, the Rockies lost a game 10-5. The Giants scored ten runs in a game in Colorado, and Kansas City scored 14.
Despite the loss of Trevor Story this season, and his replacement Kris Bryant being stuck on the IL with a bad back, the Colorado offense is humming along just fine.
They are first in the Majors in batting average, third in on-base percentage, and fourth in runs scored. But the ERA has ballooned to 5.34, which is second to last in MLB.
Braves at Rockies Prediction
Scheduled to start on Saturday for the Braves is Spencer Strider, who is making his second career start. In his first starting effort, the Braves lost to the Diamondbacks 6-2, with Strider giving up five earned runs in 4.1 innings.
He has great stuff, and even as he struggled against Arizona, he still struck out seven of the 13 outs he recorded.
The Rockies are starting Kyle Freeland, who continues to slog through an up-and-down season. He pitched five shutout innings against Arizona and gave up just one run to the Pirates.
He also gave up eight runs to the Royals and most recently allowed five earned runs in 5.2 innings against the Nationals, walking a season-high four.
Freeland, for all his troubles this year, is the more reliable starter at the moment. But Atlanta is the better team, and it’s easy to picture them scoring another ten runs.
Colorado could win, but the smarter bet is on the Braves.