MLB Picks 6/26 – Colorado Rockies @ Houston Astros

MLB Picks 6/26 – Colorado Rockies @ Houston Astros

by Thomas Quaynor for Wannamakeabet.com

The Colorado Rockies (27-52) conclude a mini two-game series on the road against the Houston Astros (39-40) this afternoon at Minute Maid Park. Houston won the opener 5-2 last night as starting pitcher Hunter Brown struck out seven batters over six scoreless innings. Houston jumped on Colorado out of the gate by scoring all five of their runs in the top of the first inning. Houston has now won eight of nine against Colorado dating back to August 2021. They’ll have a chance to win a season-high seventh straight game with a victory this afternoon.

Colorado has lost two in a row and seven of their last nine games. Rockies first baseman Michael Toglia hit his eighth homer of the season in the loss. Second baseman Brendan Rogers went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Rockies. Colorado has lost 7 straight games at Houston, their last win at Minute Maid Park was a 5-1 victory in August 2018. The teams are meeting for the fourth and final time this season today, Houston dominated Colorado in all three matchups outscoring them by a combined score of 25-11.

 

This afternoon’s starters are Ryan Feltner (1-6, 6.02 ERA) for Colorado and rookie Spencer Arrighetti (3-6, 6.36 ERA) for Houston

GAME ODDS

Moneyline: Colorado +158,   Houston -188

Run Line:    Colorado +1.5 (-138),   Houston -1.5 (+115)

Run Total:   over 8.5 (-104)   under 8.5 (-118)       

GAME STORYLINES: COLORADO

At 27-52, the Colorado Rockies own the second-worst record in MLB – behind the 21-60 Chicago White Sox – and occupy last place in the National League West division. They are headed for a sixth straight losing season and will likely finish last in the division for a third straight season. The biggest culprit for Colorado’s abysmal season is pitching. The Rockies rank dead last in just about every pitching category. If you remove ace Cal Quantrill (6-5 with a 3.50 ERA) from the equation, the other four starters in Colorado’s starting rotation are a combined 7-26.

Colorado’s hitting has been mediocre this season due to injuries suffered by key players. Veteran outfielder Charlie Blackmon (.266, 3 HR, 26 RBI in 62 games) has been on the 10-day injured list since June 19 due to a right hamstring strain. The 37-year-old, four-time All-Star Blackmon has spent his entire 14-year MLB career with the Rockies and is one of their best players in franchise history.

MLB Picks 6/26 – Colorado Rockies @ Houston Astros

Oft-injured veteran first baseman Kris Bryant (.186, 2 HR, 10 RBI) is on 10-day injured list with back and rib injuries. The 32-year-old, 4-time All-Star and 2016 NL MVP has been limited to just 24 games this season with an assortment of injuries. Bryant last played on June 2, and has not participated in more than 100 games in a season since 2018. Catcher Elias Diaz (.303, 5 HR, 28 RBI) has been on the 10-day injured list since June 11 due to a left calf strain. The 33-year-old Diaz was Colorado’s lone representative in the All-Star game last season.

A few bright spots for Colorado amidst their abysmal season has been the play of second-year star shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (.285, 12 HR, 36 RBI, 23 doubles) and third baseman Ryan McMahon (.281, 14 HR, 42 RBI). The 29-year-old McMahon leads the team in homers and RBI, and has hit 20 or more homers in 4 straight full seasons. Colorado signed the 22-year-old Tovar to a 7-year, $63.5 extension in March after he put together an outstanding rookie season where he hit 15 homers and drove in 73 runs. Tovar leads the team in batting average this season.

GAME STORYLINES: HOUSTON 

Over the past seven seasons, the Houston Astros have been the preeminent franchise in all of baseball as they’ve won two World Series (2017 and 2022) and six consecutive American League West division titles. The Astros have also posted the three winningest seasons in franchise history – 107 wins in 2019, 106 wins in 2022 and 103 wins in 2018 – during this stretch of stellar play.  

For a second straight season, the Houston Astros got off to an uncharacteristically slow start as they opened the season getting swept by the New York Yankees in four games at home. Things went from bad to worse for the Astros as they found themselves a season-worst 12 games below .500 (12-24) on May 8. Houston began last season 17-18 before rallying to finish 90-72 and edging out the Seattle Mariners to win the division. 

Inconsistency and injuries with the starting pitching staff were the biggest reason for the terrible 12-24 start. The starters have turned things around of late as they’ve given up 3 runs or fewer in 5 of the previous 6 games which have all been wins. Houston is playing their best ball of the season as they’ve won six straight and pulled within a game of .500 at 39-40. They can reach the .500 mark for the first time this season with a win today.

MLB Picks 6/26 – Colorado Rockies @ Houston Astros

At the plate, Houston continues to boast an elite lineup that features right fielder Kyle Tucker (.266 19 HR, 40 RBI, 46 walks), left fielder Yordan Alvarez (.288, 16 HR, 41 RBI) and 8-time All-Star Jose Altuve (.301, 12 HR, 33 RBI). Tucker and Alvarez have made two consecutive All-Star games and led the Astros in homers and RBI for the last 3 seasons. Tucker leads the Astros in homers this year despite missing the last 3 weeks with a right shin contusion. The 34-year-old, 2017 AL MVP Altuve continues to produce at a high level in his 14th MLB season.

Through all the turmoil surrounding Houston’s pitching staff for most of the season, right-hander Ronel Blanco has emerged as Houston’s best pitcher so far in 2024. The 30-year-old Blanco joined the starting rotation only because Justin Verlander and Jose Urquidy began the season on the injured list. Blanco is 8-2 with a 2.34 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 14 starts this season. Blanco spent the majority of his professional baseball career as a reliever until the Astros converted him to a starter in June 2023. 

THE PICK: ASTROS (Run Line)

Houston appears to be back in championship form while Colorado is arguably the worst team in baseball. Houston has dominated Colorado in recent years and I expect more of the same this afternoon. Take Houston on the run line!

MLB Picks 6/26 – Colorado Rockies @ Houston Astros