Possible Pitching Duel in Colorado as Rockies Face Red Sox – MLB Predictions

Believe it or not, a pitching duel could occur in Colorado on Thursday night when Dice-K, that’s Daisuke Matsuzaka, returns to the Boston Red Sox pitching rotation after spending some time on the DL (disabled list).  The baseball odds makers have made the BoSox slight underdogs in the MBL sportsbook to beat the Rockies on Thursday night.

Dice-K was absolutely brilliant in his 4 starts before landing on the DL going 3 and 1 and posting a 1.98 ERA.  If the DL time helped him any, he could shut down a Rockies line-up that scored 8 runs against the Red Sox last night after Boston’s batters found a way to get to probable Cy Young Award winning pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez.

The Colorado Rockies counter Dice-K with their own very good pitcher in Jason Hammel.  Since returning from the DL, Hammel has been amazing in 5 starts going 4 and 0 with a .78 ERA.

Will it be Hammel or Dice-K bringing the heat in tonight’s Red Sox vs. Rockies battle?

 Boston Red Sox vs. Colorado Rockies

Where:  Coors Field, Denver, CO

When:  June 24th, 2010 at 8:40 pm EST

TV:  Boston – NESN
        Colorado – FSN

Radio:  Boston – WEEI 850, SBN 1150
             Colorado – KOA 850, KMXA 1090

MLB Betting Odds

Boston Red Sox
Daisuke Matsuzaka – R                       +1 ½ -200        Ev        O 9 -125

Colorado Rockies
Jason Hammel – R                              -1 ½ +170        -120     U 9 +105

Now for a few baseball betting trends…

• The Boston Red Sox are 4 and 0 in their last 4 games after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
  The Boston Red Sox are 17 and 4 in their last 21 games when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
• The Colorado Rockies are 8 and 1 in Jason Hammel’s last 9 starts as a home favorite of -110 to -150.
• The Colorado Rockies are 22 and 4 in their last 26 interleague home games versus a right-handed starter.

The Red Sox are slight underdogs but I’m surprised that they aren’t bigger underdogs than the current odds listed in the baseball sportsbook.  Hammel has been absolutely brilliant while the Red Sox bullpen has been terrible.  Boston’s bullpen has gone 0 and 2 in the Red Sox last 4 games.  They’ve posted a 17.18 ERA in those 4 games.

Based on the bullpen’s numbers and the fact that Dice-K is coming off of the disabled list, the Red Sox should be +125 favorites instead of only Ev money favorites in this game.  I can’t make a baseball bet on the Boston Red Sox at even money.  I just don’t see the value in that.

The best baseball betting value wager above is on under the total of 9 runs at +105.  If Dice-K comes back to where he was before going to the disabled list, then he could keep the Rockies from putting up too many runs.

Hammel should do his part.  He’s been hot lately and the Red Sox have to be deflated after losing last night’s game the way they did (after a Jason Giambi home run!).  I’m hoping that both pitchers get into a duel and the score ends up something like 4 to 3 Red Sox or 4 to 3 Rockies.

I’m going to bet that this game goes under the total.

MLB Sportsbook Pick:  Under 9 runs +105