Phillies Returning to Earlier Season Form
The Philadelphia Phillies visit the Colorado Rockies in their last series prior to the All-Star break at Coors Field in Denver. The current line has Philadelphia at +116, Colorado at -160 and the over/under run total on 11.5.
Entering this game, Philadelphia has a record of 41-47 overall and 20-24 on the road. The Phillies are 8-2 over their past 10 games played. Colorado entering this game is 39-47 overall and 19-21 at home. The Rockies are 2-8 in their past 10 games played.
The Phillies appear to have found the groove they had earlier in the season that made them one of the league’s most surprising ball clubs the first month and a half of the season. Philadelphia has won 9 of its past 11 overall behind an unlikely surge in offense.
The Phillies started their season with 24 wins in 41 games and were a half game out of first in the National League East as of May 18. However, the Phillies then lost 28 of 36 games while averaging just 3.4 runs per game to drop 13 games behind first place.
Philadelphia will send Jerad Eickhoff to the mound on Saturday. The Phillies right-hander is 6-9 with an ERA of 3.30. Colorado will counter with Tyler Anderson. The Rockies left-hander is 0-3 with an ERA of 3.03.
Eickhoff has won four of his past five decisions including Monday’s win over Atlanta when he gave up five hits and two runs while fanning 8.
Anderson had not allowed over three runs per game in any of the first five starts of his career, However, he has had little run support over the past two starts both resulting in losses. Anderson has given up five earned runs in three appearances at Coors Field.
The Phillies won on Friday 5-3 to snap a losing streak of five straight games to Colorado. The Rockies are losers of 8 of their past 10 due to an inconsistent offense that has scored just 25 runs during 9 games in July but 11 of those runs came in just one game.
Philadelphia has won 100 games versus Colorado.
Colorado right fielder Carlos Gonzalez has 9 doubles, 11 homers and 30 RBIs, while batting .471 over his past 22 games at home.
Prediction: Both teams have been inconsistent of late in scoring, but Philadelphia appears to be returning to earlier season form. Lean toward the visitors on Saturday.
