The Pittsburgh Pirates (38-53) face the Colorado Rockies (42-49) in the 2nd game of a 3-game series in Denver Saturday. First pitch is 3:10 p.m. ET at Coors Field.
The season series is tied 2-2.
The Pirates have lost 3 games in a row after a 4-game win streak. They dropped the series opener 13-2 Friday.
The Rockies have now won 4 straight games and 7 of their last 9 contests. They can clinch their 3rd straight series win with a victory Saturday.
Pirates at Rockies projected starters
RHP Mitch Keller vs. RHP Jose Urena
Keller (3-6, 4.88 ERA) makes his 16th start and 18th appearance. He has a 1.48 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9 and 7.7 K/9 through 83 IP.
- Is coming off his best start of the year with 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB and 5 K in a 5-1 win at the Miami Marlins Monday.
- Had allowed 12 earned runs in 15 innings over 3 starts prior to the Marlins game.
Urena (0-1, 2.66 ERA) makes his 3rd start and 7th appearance. He has a 1.48 WHIP, 4.9 BB/9 and 3.5 K/9 through 20 1/3 IP.
- Has a 2.13 ERA and has pitched 6 innings in his 2 starts since joining the Rockies from the Milwaukee Brewers.
- The Rockies have lost both of his starts since joining the team.
Pirates at Rockies odds and lines
- Money line (ML): Pirates +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Rockies -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Pirates +1.5 (-165) | Rockies -1.5 (+133)
- Over/Under (O/U): 11.5 (O: -120 | U: -105)
Pirates at Rockies picks and predictions
Prediction
Rockies 6, Pirates 4
Money line
The Pirates have dropped 3 straight games and are 5-5 on their current road trip. They are 18-30 on the road this season.
The Rockies are playing extremely well at home right now. They are 4-1 on their current homestand and have won 11 of their last 14 games at Coors Field.
Urena has pitched well since joining the Rockies and Keller’s last start has not been his norm.
Take the ROCKIES (-145).
Run line/Against the spread
The Pirates are 46-45 ATS overall this season but 26-22 ATS on the road.
The Rockies are 28-21 ATS at home, the 3rd-best home ATS mark in baseball. Their last 4 wins have all been by at least 2 runs.
Six of the Pirates’ last 9 losses have been by at least 2 runs.
Take the ROCKIES -1.5 (+133).
Over/Under
The series opener had 15 total runs and the Rockies’ last 3 games have all had 13 or more runs.
Two of the 4 games between these teams have had 12 or more runs.
Seven of the last 9 games for the Pirates have had fewer than 12 runs. They have scored more than 4 runs only twice in their last 11 games.
Take UNDER 11.5 (-105).
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