Two of the prize pitchers in the National League face off for the fifth time in their careers at AT&T Park.
Colorado Rockies at San Francisco Giants
Colorado dropped Sunday’s rubber match, 4-3, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. “We did nothing to lose the game and everything we could to win the game,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said after the game. The Rockies are still 15-12 in the month of May (+280), which is an improvement from their 36-47 mark during the month the last three years (-1,500). Colorado finds itself in one of its worst betting situations as a team, being placed on the road with a money line of -100 to -125, going 2-5 this year (-380) and 10-26 the last three seasons (-1,920).
Rockies SP Ubaldo Jimenez has not allowed a run in 17 innings and boasts an ERA of 0.88. He has not faced the Giants this season, but is 3-4 with a 3.19 ERA in 10 starts against San Francisco in his career. The right-hander has been truly dominating away from Coors Field, notching a 5-1 record and 0.62 ERA in six starts, allowing just 20 hits in 43.1 innings. Colorado’s offense has provided decent support for Jimenez this season, especially with 34 runs scored in his last six starts. The Rockies are 9-1 in his 10 starts this season (+780).
San Francisco comes into this showdown winner of four-straight and five of their last six games. The Giants are coming off a three-game sweep of Arizona over the weekend, but are still a disappointing 7-12 against division rivals this season (-810). They will host Colorado for the second time this year, picking up a 2-1 series victory, as they held the Rockies to just seven total runs. The pitching staff has been the toughest to hit in the majors this season, as opponents are managing to hit just .218 against them. The bullpen has held its own as well, currently ranking sixth in the National League with a 3.48 ERA.
Giants SP Tim Lincecum has gone 5-1 with a 3.00 ERA over his first 10 starts, picking up 80 strikeouts in 66 innings of work. San Francisco has won seven of his 10 outings this season (+150), but has lost his last two starts. The two-time Cy Young winner will be making his 12th career start against the Rockies and his first this season. He is 5-3 with a 3.52 ERA, with the Giants going 5-6 in those games (-220). Lincecum is a perfect 3-0 with dynamite 1.78 ERA in five daytime starts this season and is 17-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 37 outings under the sun in his career.
Short-minded bettors will more than likely back the Rockies in this matchup, with Jimenez being extremely dominant this season, while Lincecum has a 4.99 ERA in May. Both pitchers have matched up in four games throughout their careers, with Lincecum posting a 1-2 record and 3.08 ERA and Jimenez going 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA.
From a value standpoint, placing money on the home team in such a matchup may be the right play, especially with the Giants being 2-0 this season at home with a money line of -100 to -125.
