MLB Picks 6/19 – Colorado Rockies @ Cincinnati Reds

MLB Picks 6/19 – Colorado Rockies @ Cincinnati Reds

by Thomas Quaynor

The Colorado Rockies (29-45) visit the Cincinnati Reds (37-35) tonight in the opener of a 3-game series. Colorado has lost 5 straight games and just suffered an embarrassing 4-game sweep in Atlanta where they were outscored 40-12 in the four games. Cincinnati is red hot entering tonight’s game as they’ve won 8 straight games, their longest winning since 2012. Colorado took 2 of 3 from Cincinnati at home earlier in the season. Tonight’s starting pitchers are Austin Gomber (4-6, 7.29 ERA) for Colorado and Brandon Williamson (1-0, 5.40 ERA) for Cincinnati.

GAME ODDS

Moneyline: Colorado +134, Cincinnati -158

Run Line: Colorado +1.5 (-146), Cincinnati -1.5 (+122)

Run Total: over 10 (-115)  under 10 (-105)

GAME STORYLINES

Things went from bad to worse for the last place Colorado Rockies after a humiliating 4-game sweep in Atlanta over the weekend that saw them give up 40 runs and surrender 12 home runs. Injuries to several star players and faulty starting pitching has made 2023 a lost season for Colorado. They are currently 15 games out of first place in the National League West and are headed toward a fifth consecutive losing season.  

Three of Colorado’s best players, outfielder Charlie Blackmon (fractured hand), first baseman C.J. Cron (back) and right fielder Kris Bryant (bruised left heel) are all out with injuries and may not be returning anytime soon. The 4-time All-Star Blackmon has spent his entire 13-year MLB career in Colorado and may not return next season. Right fielder Randal Grichuk (.297, 1 HR  15 RBI in 39 games) missed the first month of the season due to offseason hernia surgery.

One bright spot for Colorado this season has been the play of 21-year-old rookie shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, he’s hitting .256 with 6 homers and 30 RBI. He was Colorado’s top minor league prospect coming into the season and has lived up to the billing up to this point. Tovar left yesterday’s game in Atlanta to be with his wife who went into labor, he may be placed on the paternity list and miss this entire series. Third baseman Ryan McMahon’s 12 homers and 41 RBI lead the team. 

The Cincinnati Reds have won 8 straight games which is the longest active streak in MLB and they just swept three games from the defending World Series Champion Astros in Houston. At 37-35, they now sit just a half game behind first place Milwaukee in the National League Central. This is quite the turnaround for Cincinnati when you consider they finished 62-100 last season and have not made playoffs after a full season since 2013. 

On June 6, Cincinnati called up highly touted 21-year-old infielder Elly De La Cruz from Triple-A Louisville, ESPN rated him as their number one minor league prospect. He went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks and a run scored in a come-from-behind, walk-off 9-8 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his debut. That win and the arrival of De La Cruz seems to have sparked Cincinnati as they’ve gone 10-2 and won 8 in a row. De La Cruz is hitting .273 with 1 homer and 5 RBI across 10 games. 

In addition to De La Cruz, Cincinnati is getting huge contribution from several other young and talented players in 26-year-old second baseman Jonathan India (the 2021 NL Rookie of the Year), 25-year-old first baseman Spencer Steer and 26-year-old catcher Tyler Stephenson. Oddly enough, India and Steer are posting almost identical numbers, both have 10 homers, 39 RBI and 17 doubles which lead the team. Steer is hitting .277 while India is hitting .272. Stephenson has 5 homers and 32 RBI. 

THE PICK

This one is easy, Cincinnati is red hot and Colorado just got humiliated in Atlanta..Take Cincinnati on the moneyline!