The Atlanta Braves gave up 12 runs in their doubleheader in Detroit on Wednesday, but they ended up winning both games, taking the opener, 10-7, and the nightcap, 6-5. Both of their starting pitchers, Spencer Strider and Dylan Dodd, struggled to get outs, but the offense came through. The sweep may have come at a high cost, though, as reliever Jesse Chavez took a batted ball off his leg and went down. The hurler was slow to stand up and needed help to get off the field, as his injured leg would not bear any weight. Over 30 appearances and 29 innings, he had already put up an 0.8 fWAR figure, one of the best of his 16-year career. Preliminary testing showed no fracture, which could mean the injury is just a bone bruise. Read on for our MLB betting previews for each game of this weekend’s four-game set between the Braves and the visiting Colorado Rockies.
MLB Betting News Series Spotlight: Colorado Rockies at Atlanta Braves (June 15-18) | MLB Lines
Kyle Freeland (4-7, 3.91 ERA) (COL) vs A.J. Smith-Shawver (0-0, 0.00 ERA) (ATL)
When: Thursday, June 15, 7:20 pm ET
Where: SunTrust Park
Live Stream: MLB.tv
Kyle Freeland’s away record (1-5, 4.81 ERA) is even less encouraging than his overall win-loss record. However, his last two games have brought that ERA down from 4.22 to its current level, and one of those came on the road. Those two starts came at Kansas City and at home against San Diego. A lack of run support caused the Rockies to lose both games; in Kansas City, Freeland had a nice outing, permitting two runs on four hits over seven innings. Against San Diego on Saturday, he allowed a run on six hits over five innings, but the bullpen yielded two runs in a 3-2 loss.
A.J. Smith-Shawver makes his third appearance of 2023, and he has yet to permit an earned run. He faced a tight pitch count in his season debut, going 2 ⅓ innings without permitting a hit, striking out three and walking one in a scoreless outing. He permitted two runs on three hits against Washington on Friday, but those runs were unearned. He struck out two and walked two. I don’t expect him to go too far into Thursday’s game, which means the Rockies will get into the Atlanta bullpen early. Rockies to win.
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Dinelson Lamet (1-3, 10.38 ERA) (COL) vs Jared Shuster (3-2, 5.05 ERA) (ATL)
When: Friday, June 16, 7:20 pm ET
Where: SunTrust Park
Live Stream: MLB.tv
Dinelson Lamet started the season in the Colorado bullpen, putting together a 12.66 ERA. Moving to the starting rotation hasn’t helped much; in three starts, he has lasted a combined 11 innings against the Diamondbacks, Giants and Padres. He has permitted 11 runs (10 earned) on 19 hits, striking out 13 while walking five. It’s true that his ERA has dropped almost three points since coming to the rotation, but he’s still finding a lot of the plate.
Jared Shuster has gotten wins in three of his last four starts, and his ERA has improved from a high of 8.31 that he reached on April 7 before betting sent down to the minors. Other injuries to the Atlanta rotation led to his call back up to the big club, and he has pitched more effectively since then. He still has only finished six innings one time; in his last start on Saturday, he held Washington to three runs on eight hits over five innings in a 6-4 victory. Braves to win.
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Connor Seabold (1-2, 4.70 ERA) (COL) vs Bryce Elder (4-1, 2.69 ERA) (ATL)
When: Saturday, June 17, 4:10 pm ET
Where: SunTrust Park
Live Stream: MLB.tv
In the month of June, Connor Seabold hasn’t yet gotten a decision, but his ERA has been a much improved 2.08. He has made three starts during that time, permitting no more than two earned runs in any game. Over 17 ⅓ combined innings, he has allowed four earned runs on 11 hits while striking out 15 and walking five. The Rockies have only won one of those three games, as the bullpen let him down in all three games, the offense rallied in a ten-inning in win in Boston on Monday.
Bryce Elder had an ERA of 1.92 at the end of May, but things have fallen off the table in June. In two starts, he has permitted nine earned runs on 12 hits, including three home runs, over 11 ⅓ combined innings against the Mets and Nationals. He did strike out eight Mets and still got the victory as the offense supported him in a 6-4 win, but he didn’t have great stuff against the Nationals on Sunday, getting just one strikeout in a 6-2 loss. Rockies to win.
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Chase Anderson (0-0, 2.72 ERA) (COL) vs Charlie Morton (5-6, 3.60 ERA) (ATL)
When: Sunday, June 18, 1:30 pm ET
Where: SunTrust Park
Live Stream: MLB.tv
Chase Anderson started the season in the Tampa Bay bullpen, posting a perfect 0.00 ERA through two outings. However, he got shipped to Colorado, where the Rockies put him in the starting rotation. His ERA has climbed every outing since then, and he now has the numbers of a serviceable back-of-the-rotation starter. In his last outing, he permitted three earned runs on five hits over 4 ⅓ innings. He has only finished six innings one time this season.
Charlie Morton has one of his best outings of the season on Monday, as he held Detroit scoreless over 5 ⅔ innings, scattering four hits and three walks while walking eight. That pitch count got high, though, as he needed 104 pitches to get that far, and the bullpen let the Tigers up off the mat in a 6-5 loss in ten innings. Morton’s last win came in Texas on May 15, as he threw 6 ⅔ innings of scoreless ball, striking out ten and scattering seven hits and a walk. Braves to win.
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