Pittsburgh Pirates Vs. Colorado Rockies (7/15/22) Starting Lineup, Betting Odds, Prediction

In 2022, the Pirates are 38-51 in their first 89 games, third place in the National League Central.  They have a .1% chance of making the 2022 postseason and their last appearance in the playoffs was 2015.  Pittsburgh made the postseason three straight seasons: 2013-15; their last World Series title was 1979 led by Hall of Famer Willie Stargell.

The Rockies are 40-49, fourth place in the National League West through 89 games.  Colorado has never won the NL West since their inception in 1993.  The Rockies haven’t appeared in the playoffs since 2018 when they lost in the Division Round; they currently have a .1% of making the playoffs this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates Vs. Colorado Rockies Betting Odds

In their first 46 games on the road this campaign, the Pirates are 10 games under .500 at 18-28.  Against National League West opponents, Pittsburgh is 12-9; three games over .500 in 2022.  The Pirates have won two out three games over the Rockies this season.  Pittsburgh has a record of 113-106 against Colorado; seven games over .500.  Colorado is 25-22 in their first 47 games at Coors Field in 2022.   Against left-handed starters this year, the Rockies are 17-18 through 35 games.  Colorado is 6-4, two games over .500 against National League Central foes.  

Pittsburgh Pirates Starting Lineup

J. Quintana L
2-4 3.59 ERA

2B K. Newman R
3B K. Hayes R
LF J. Suwinski L
DH D. Vogelbach L
1B Y. Tsutsugo L
SS O. Cruz L
RF B. Gamel L
CF J. Marisnick R
C M. Perez L

Pittsburgh Pirates Vs. German Marquez (R)

Centerfielder Bryan Reynolds leads the Pirates in home runs (15), total bases (141) and OPS (.808).  The centerfielder is currently on the 10-day injured list. 

Jack Suwinski is second on Pittsburgh with 14 home runs this campaign.  He has 25 runs batted in, 95 total bases with a .430 slugging percentage and an OPS of .719 in 2022. 

Daniel Vogelbach who serves mostly as the Pirates’ designated hitter has belted 12 home runs this year.  The 29-year-old leads the Pirates in runs batted in with 33, accumulated 101 total bases with a .445 slugging percentage and an OPS of .782 in his first season in Pittsburgh.

Michael Chavis has hit seven doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, driven in 31 runs with a slugging percentage of .422 in 2022.  In his fourth season, he has 100 total bases and a .700 OPS.  Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes is hitting .250 in over 300 at-bats this season.  Hayes has hit four home runs, knocked in 27 runs with 109 total bases. 

German Marquez is 5-7 in 17 starts with an ERA of 5.66 in 2022.  Marquez has thrown 97 innings, striking out 81 batters, allowing XX runs with a WHIP of 1.474 in 2022.  The seven-year veteran has an 59-48 record with an ERA of 4.42 and 897 strikeouts in 911 1/3 career innings.

Colorado Rockies Starting Lineup

German Marquez R
5-7 5.66 ERA

RF C. Joe R
DH C. Blackmon L
LF K. Bryant R
1B C.J. Cron R
2B B. Rodgers R
CF R. Grichuk R
3B R. McMahon L
SS J. Iglesias R
C E. Diaz R

Colorado Rockies Vs. Jose Quintana (L)

In his second season with Colorado, C.J. Cron was named to the National League All-Star this season. Cron leads the Rockies in home runs (20), runs batted in (67), slugging percentage (.545) and OPS (.893) in 2022.  The first baseman is hitting .294, second on the team and leading the club in total bases with 180.  He’s batting a wrist injury he’s questionable for the series against the Pirates,

Jose Iglesias leads the Rockies in batting average at .305 this year.  The shortstop has 19 doubles, three home runs, 31 runs batted in with 110 total bases.  Last season, Ryan McMahon hit .254 with 23 home runs and 86 runs batted in.  In 2022, the left-handed hitter, has hit 13 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 40 runs batted in.  He has 122 total bases and an OPS of .707 this season.  Brendan Rodgers has 18 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 43 runs batted in this year.  The second baseman has 123 total bases, .406 slugging percentage with an OPS of .712 in 2022.

Charlie Blackmon who’s served mostly as the designated hitter this season for the Rockies is second on the team in home runs (14), runs batted (50) and total bases (151).  The 2017 National League batting champion has an OPS of .798 with a .473 slugging percentage in over 315 at-bats in 2022.

Jose Quintana is 2-4 in 17 starts with an ERA of 3.59 this season.  Quintana has tossed 85 1/3 innings, striking out 78 batters, allowing 34 runs with a WHIP of 1.313 in 2022.  The 11-year veteran has an 85-84 record with an ERA of 3.82 and 1,473 strikeouts in 1,643 1/3 career innings.

Pittsburgh Pirates Vs. Colorado Rockies Team Picks & Prediction

Pittsburgh is scoring 3.78 runs per game, 28^th in the majors.  The Pirates are hitting .221 as a team, 29^th in MLB with an OPS of .663 which is 28^th in the big leagues.  Pittsburgh’s pitching staff is allowing 5.22 runs per nine innings, 25^th in the majors with opponents hitting .258, 27^th in the league. 

Offensively, the Rockies are averaging 4.60 runs per nine innings, 13^th in the majors.  They are hitting .259 as a team, third overall in MLB with an OPS of .725, 10^th overall.  Colorado’s pitching staff is allowing 5.44 runs per nine innings, 28^th in Major League Baseball with opponents hitting .274, 30^th overall.   

I’ll take the Rockies in this game to cover the 1.5 run spread; these are two of the worst teams in terms of ERA in the big leagues, but playing in thin air in Colorado gives the Rockies the advantage.