I suppose you’d call this the Battle of the Four Corners, if you were trying to manufacture a geographic beef between these two teams. Rivalry weekend rolls on out west at Chase Field in Arizona. Below, I’ve got my preview, prediction, and best bet for this Friday baseball game between the Diamondbacks and the Rockies.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
Diamondbacks vs. Rockies prediction, preview
Arizona enters at 23-21, a middle-tier NL West team, while the Rockies, a league-worst 7-36, are struggling mightily. The Rockies, coming off a brutal sweep at the hands of the Rangers, are sending rookie Carson Palmquist to the mound in his MLB debut. Meanwhile, Corbin Burnes (2-1, 2.95 ERA) starts for the Diamondbacks, continuing his stellar form, including a dominant 7-inning, 0-earned-run performance in his last start against the Dodgers.
On offense, Arizona boasts a top-tier attack, ranking fifth in the league in runs per game (5.05) and slugging (.444). Corbin Carroll (14 HR, 31 RBI) has been exceptional, and Eugenio Suarez (13 HR, 31 RBI) just won’t stop adding to the Diamondbacks’ power surge. Arizona’s offense leads the league with a 113 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers and ranks fourth overall with 61 home runs this season. Their ability to generate this kind of power power makes them a dangerous threat against Palmquist, who has never faced a lineup of this caliber. On the flip side, the Rockies, with a meager 3.2 runs per game (29th in MLB), have struggled at the plate all season. Colorado ranks 28th in batting average (.217) and 30th in ERA (5.73), and they sit at 29th in runs scored (138).
Burnes has been a stabilizing force for Arizona, consistently going deep into games. His 33 strikeouts in 39.2 innings are a testament to his effectiveness, and his home ERA of 1.96 proves he’s a different animal at Chase Field. Burnes has allowed just five home runs in 39 innings this season and owns a 9.5 K/9 rate, and should dispatch this lineup fairly easily. He’s only allowed two earned runs over his last 18.1 innings.
Hunter Goodman (six HR, 25 RBI) and Ryan McMahon (also six HR) have provided some pop for Colorado. The offense has otherwise been non-existent in recent games, scoring three or fewer runs in nine of their last 12 contests. With the Rockies’ pitching staff having a 5.73 ERA and 1.59 WHIP, they’ve been unable to contain any offense, let alone a one like Arizona’s. Opponents are hitting .295 against Colorado pitchers, and with a 5.16 runs-per-9 innings rate, they rank 30th in both categories.
Rockies vs. Diamondbacks pick, best bet
The Diamondbacks have dominated the Rockies in recent seasons, winning seven of their last 10 matchups, including six of seven at home. Colorado’s struggles on the road (2-20) and Arizona’s 81% implied win probability based on the moneyline all steer us toward a dominant performance tonight. Arizona has also shown resilience when leading after five innings, a pattern they’ve maintained in seven of their last eight home games against losing teams. This combined with the Rockies’ general awfulness and Burnes’ dominant form makes it clear where this game is headed.
Take the Diamondbacks to cover the -1.5 run line. Arizona’s superior offense and ace pitching lead them to an easy victory, while the Rockies continue their slide.
Best bet: Diamondbacks -1.5 (-190) vs. Rockies
The rivalry is as unexciting as the juice—tail it with me in the DKN betting group here!
