MLB Baseball
2026-06-23 - Boston Red Sox at Colorado Rockies
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Tuesday 23rd June 2026 - Scheduled 8:40pm EST
1:40am (British Time)
Preview
The Boston Red Sox (31-45) and Colorado Rockies (31-48) have the joint fewest wins in the Major League Baseball season alongside the San Francisco Giants. None of those teams have shown the consistency that is going to be needed to turn things around and now we are approaching the halfway mark of the regular season schedule.
With that said, the Red Sox and Rockies could both be involved in trades to ensure they can bounce back in 2027 and that is a real disappointment for fans of Boston.
This is a team that was expected to push towards the top of the very competitive American League East, but it has been a tough first half of the campaign. One of the very few shining lights has been veteran pitcher Sonny Gray who will be heading to the mound in this one and the trade rumours are beginning to build around him with contenders always looking for strong experience and pitching.
Sonny Gray has a 'no trade' clause in his contract, but there is a willingness for him to remove that if he is happy with the conditions to try and win a World Series. His focus on the mound will have been noted by those teams looking for more pitching and Gray has an 8-1 record with a 3.12 ERA in thirteen starts for the Boston Red Sox.
He is unbeaten in nine starts, although Sonny Gray has allowed three runs in three of his last five outings. Despite that, the Red Sox batting lineup have done enough to keep him from taking the decision loss and Sonny Gray has been very strong in the other two starts during that run.
Sonny Gray is pitching against the Colorado Rockies for the first time in two years since being a member of the St Louis Cardinals. He allowed three runs and was one out away from completing 5 Innings in that last start against the Rockies and Gray absorbed the decision loss.
This is the fourteenth year in the Major Leagues for Sonny Gray, but the Colorado Rockies are going to counter by handing the ball to rookie Sean Sullivan as they continue to assess players on the roster. It is going to be the third start made by Sullivan this season and he has a 0-1 record with a 10.89 ERA in the previous two.
Those two previous starts have been markedly different- Sean Sullivan threw 3 Innings and kept the Athletics scoreless in the first, but completed 4 Innings against the Chicago Cubs last time out and was roughed up for eight runs.
Both starts have been on the road and Sean Sullivan will be tested in a ballpark that is known as one where batters can thrive and it is a big occasion for a pitcher that was born in Boston.
The Rockies took the opener of this inter-League series and they have won three of the last four when hosting the Boston Red Sox.
Prediction
Trade rumours can be a distraction, but a veteran like Sonny Gray should remain focused on his job and that is making sure he pitches as well as he can to give the Boston Red Sox a chance to win.
He can do that here, especially if the Red Sox can get after rookie Sean Sullivan, and the road team may have enough firepower to level things up after dropping the Monday game 3-2.
The Pick :
Colorado Rockies 3-6 Boston Red Sox
