The Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies open up a four-game series Thursday night at Coors Field

Milwaukee Brewers at Colorado Rockies

Milwaukee could be running away with the National League Central division at this point, but its poor play away from Miller Park has resulted in a 16-29 record on the road.    The Brewers will open up after the All-Star break with a season-long 11-game road trip at a venue they have lost 24 of their last 33 games in.  The club’s bullpen is currently ranked 20th in the league and received a new addition Tuesday night by the signing of Mets reliever Francisco Rodriguez.  The veteran closer tallied 23 saves in 26 opportunities in the Big Apple and has major experience in big games.  Milwaukee is 40-31 versus right-handed starters this year.

Brewers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo has a solid 10-5 record and 3.76 ERA in 19 starts this season and has alternated wins and losses in his last four outings.  The right-hander tallied a 3-1 home win over the Diamondbacks last time out, giving up just a single run and four hits over seven innings.  Gallardo has posted a losing 3-4 mark and 4.39 ERA in nine road efforts, surrendering nine home runs in 53 1/3 innings.  in six career appearances (five starts) versus the Rockies, he is a winless 0-3 with a 5.85 ERA, including a 0-1 record and 9.19 ERA in three starts at Coors Field.

Colorado sits 8 1/2 games back in the National League standings and will need its offense to start picking up the pace in order to make a move.  The Rockies can only hope that outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has gotten over a deep bruise on his right wrist, as his status is uncertain for this particular contest.  He finished June hitting .349 in 109 at-bats last month and was off to a solid .357 start in 14 plate appearances during the early stages of July.  Colorado is 27-37 versus right-handed starters this year and an even 22-22 at home.

Rockies starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez is 4-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 17 starts this season and will be throwing at home for the first time this month.  The right-hander is coming off a dazzling performance in Washington, giving up just one run and five hits in eight innings of a 2-1 victory. Jimenez has had little to celebrate at home, coming in with a dismal 1-5 record and 6.24 ERA, as opponents are hitting .319 against him  In five career outings versus the Brewers, he is 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA, but dropped an earlier contest against them on May 22 in Milwaukee.  He allowed just three runs (two earned) and two hits in eight innings of work in a 3-1 loss.

Bettors will be interested in backing the Rockies due to their 4-1 mark in Jimenez’s five outings versus the Brewers, while the visitor is 5-16 as an underdog