MLB Baseball
2012-04-11 - San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Wednesday 11 April 2012 - First Pitch 8:40pm ET
2:40am (British Standard Time)
Preview
Both of these ball clubs are looking to get back on the right path as they have opened up the season with a few struggles. The San Francisco Giants (1-3) won Game 1 of the series 7-0 and look to make more hay against the Colorado Rockies (1-3).
The Giants will feel they can wrap up a series win as they send Tim Lincecum to the mound. However, the two time Cy Young winner will want to improve on his first outing of 2012 when he was battered by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lincecum gave up 5 runs from 6 hits and took the decision loss in under 6 innings pitched as the Giants lost 5-4.
He has also had mixed success here in Colorado over the last season, winning 1 game with a dominating performance on the mound when allowing just 1 run from just under 8 innings pitched, although he was also tagged for 7 runs in a 7-4 loss.
Lincecum will feel he can bounce back against a Rockies team that has struggled offensively and has only put up 10 runs in 4 games so far this season.
The Rockies may need their bats to heat up as they send Jeremy Guthrie to the mound to counter the Giants' ace. Guthrie was signed from the Baltimore Orioles over the off-season and he received the decision in his first start for the Rockies as they beat the Houston Astros 5-3.
Guthrie gave up 3 runs from 4 hits in that game, but he also had a few struggles with his control as he walked 3 batters and only managed 1 strikeout. He finished 9-17 in 2011 for Baltimore and had a 4.33 ERA and this will be his second appearance against the Giants.
He last faced them in June 2010 as he gave up 4 earned runs from 6 innings pitched as the Orioles were defeated 6-3.
Head to Head
San Francisco beat Colorado in Game 1 and they have now won on their last 5 visits to Coors Field.
The Giants are 14-5 in the last 19 games in the series.
Other Interesting Trends
Colorado are 1-8 in their last 9 games as the home underdog.
Prediction
I am going to back the San Francisco Giants on the run line for the following reasons:
First, San Francisco have played really well at Coors Field in recent games, winning their last 5 and outscoring the Rockies 42-16.
Second, the Rockies have been struggling at the plate at the moment and they could have a problem if Tim Lincecum bounces back in the manner expected.
Third, Jeremy Guthrie can lose control on the mound and the Giants may be able to put up enough runs to cover any issues Lincecum may have.
The Pick :
Colorado Rockies 3-7 San Francisco Giants
