Colorado Rockies (7-2) AT New York Mets (4-6)
April 13, 2011 at 7:10 PM EST
Opening Runline: NYM -1.5 +180, COL +1.5 -210
Current Runline: NYM -1.5 +175, COL +1.5 -210
Opening Moneyline: NYM -119 / COL -101
Current Moneyline: NYM -115 / COL +105
Opening Total: 7.5
Current Total: 7.5
SP: COL- E. Rogers, NYM- J. Niese
The Rockies are off to a much better start than anyone expected and have now tied their franchise history for the best season, boasting a 7-2 record. A win today would make it the best start in Rockies history.
Troy Tulowitzki is back in form. He started out the season 1 for 11, but since has hit .333 with four homers and he recorded 3 RBIs in Monday’s 7-6 win series opening win over New York. “It’s nice to get an off day,” Tulowitzki said. “We’re in the middle of 16 days in a row, so we’ll take one if we get one. It’s not breaking up any momentum at all.”
Jason Hammel was thankful for the run production, but says it is nothing new from the Rockies’ slugger. “I’m ashamed to say those things don’t surprise me anymore because (Tulowitzki) does it every day – Carlos, too,” Hammel said. “They’re two very big factors on this team.
The Mets need look no further than their bullpen to pinpoint their struggles. Staring back is a nasty 6.57 ERA with an 0-3 record. The poor bullpen play, the culprit being Ryota Igarashi, was responsible for Monday’s loss, blowing a 4-2 lead and giving up the game tying hit to Carlos Gonzalez, who finished with 3 RBIs.
Their starter for tonight’s game, Jonathan Niese, is off to a bad start this season, as well. He gave up 6 runs and 8 hits in four innings pitched in a loss to the Phillies and his ERA on the season is now 6.55. It’s far worse than his PECOTA projections of a 9-10 record with a 4.69 ERA. Niese has yet to record a decision against the Rays, but the Mets have lost all three games in which he started.
Things have gone far better for Colorado starter Esmil Rogers. Rogers gave up only 1 run and 4 hits in 7 1/3rds innings pitched against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also had 7 strikeouts to go with only 1 walk. The win gave him a 1-0 record and 1.23 ERA. “Rogers was special,” Tulowitzki said. “I don’t know who I told in spring training, but he was my pick to kind of surprise some people.” In his short history with the Mets, he made two relief appearances last year over three innings, as he gave up 1 run and 2 hits over that span.
Some betting trends:
Colorado is 7-1-1 SU in their last 9 games and they are 8-15-1 SU in their last 24 games. The Rockies are 4-1-1 SU in their last 6 on the road and they are 2-3-1 SU in their last 6 against the New York Mets. Colorado is 5-19-1 SU in their last 25 games on the road in New York.
The Mets are 1-5-1 SU in their last 7 games and they are 1-4-1 SU in their last 6 games at home. The Mets are 4-7-1 SU in their last 12 games against the Colorado Rockies and the Mets are 2-3-1 SU in their last 6 home games against Colorado. The Mets are 19-5-1 SU in their last 25 games at home against the Rockies.
If things go at all the same for Esmil Rogers, the Rockies are more or less assured of a victory. The Mets’ lineup isn’t potent enough that it is beyond reason to expect a shutout by Rogers, or at the most a couple runs in 7 or so innings. Indeed, Rogers is the key to this game.
