The Colorado Rockies (5-14) and Philadelphia Phillies (8-11) will square off for the 1st time this season on Thursday. First pitch from Citizens Bank Park will be at 6:40 p.m. ET.

Season series: 1st meeting; Philles won 6 of 7 from Rockies last season

The Rockies are in the midst of a dreadful streak losing 8 straight games to fall 9 games below .500. After starting the season 2-0 they’ve since lost 14 of their last 17 games and own the 3rd-worst record in MLB. They have 2nd-worst team ERA in the league (5.82) and have scored the 6th-fewest runs (72) despite playing in a hitter-friendly park.

The Phillies took 2 of 3 from the Chicago White Sox in their last series and have won 4 of their last 6 games after losing 3 in a row. Still they’re 6 games back of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East sitting 3 games below .500.

Colorado Rockies at Philadelphia Phillies projected starters

RHP Ryan Feltner vs. LHP Matt Strahm

Feltner (0-2 8.78 ERA) makes his 4th start. He has a 1.95 WHIP 7.4 BB/9 and 10.1 K/9 in 13 1/3 IP.

• Longest outing of season is just 5 IP and he’s allowed at least 3 ER in each start
• In his last start Saturday he allowed 5 ER in 3 2/3 IP to the Seattle Mariners a game the Rockies lost 9-2

Strahm (1-1 2.13 ERA) makes his 4th start. He has a 0.95 WHIP 3.6 BB/9 and 11.4 K/9 in 12 2/3 IP.

• Has appeared in 4 games 3 of which he started;
• Pitched 5 shutout inings for lone win came against the Miami Marlins on April 10.
• Saturdy start against the Cincinnati Reds: 3 R 3 H 3 BB 6  K in 2 2/3 innings of a 13-10 loss

Rockies at Phillies odds

• Moneyline (ML): Rockies +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Phillies -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rockies +1.5 (-105) | Phillies -1.5 (-115)
• Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -120 | U: +100)

Rockies at Phillies picks and predictions

Prediction

Phillies 5 Rockies 2

Moneyline

The Rockies enter on an 8-game losing streak and the Phillies – despite their sub-.500 record – won’t be the easiest opponent. Strahm probably won’t go deep into the game but he’s been steady as a starter and can give the Phillies 4-5 good innings before yielding to the bullpen.

The money line of -225 isn’t worth betting because of the low reward but this is a game the Phillies should win PASS.

Run line/Against the spread

Rather than betting the moneyline the run line offers much more upside. And when you consider that each of the Phillies’ last 5 wins has come by at least 3 runs it’s a good bet.

This is a game I expect the Phillies to win fairly comfortably against Feltner who has had control issues and has allowed 5 runs in 2 of his 3 starts BET PHILLIES -1.5 (-115).

Over/Under

The Rockies are in rough shape right now. They haven’t scored more than 3 runs in any of their last 6 games which makes it tough to win. The Phillies meanwhile have been shut out in 2 of their last 6 games but in the other 4 they scored 34 total runs.

With how hot-and-cold the Phillies have been and the Rockies’ struggling bats bet the UNDER 9 (+100).