Thursday, September 24, 2020, Oracle Park, San Francisco, California, 3:45 p.m. ET
Rockies at Giants Betting Preview: Rockies (+193), Giants (-225)
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies (24-31) will be staring postseason elimination in the face Thursday afternoon when they play the finale of a four-game series at San Francisco. The Rockies technically still can pass San Francisco, but that would require a win Thursday, a four-game sweep at Arizona this weekend and a whole bunch of Giants losses at home to San Diego in their season-ending series.
Without injured Nolan Arenado in the lineup, the Rockies have been held to a total of four runs the last two days despite accumulating 17 hits. They went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position in a 5-2 loss Tuesday, then 1-for-11 on Wednesday in a 7-2 defeat. Trevor Story provided both of the club’s hits in situations.
Right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez (0-2, 7.53 ERA) hasn’t had much luck with the Giants in four career head-to-head matchups (three starts), going 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA. He has particularly struggled with Alex Dickerson, who has tattooed him for two doubles and two singles in five lifetime at-bats.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants (28-27) are level at the top of the NL wild-card race as they prepare to wrap up their season series with the Rockies. San Francisco has won two of three in this four-game set after losing four of the first six against Colorado this year.
The Giants, who have had the opportunity to do the scoreboard-watching this week by virtue of playing the late game on the West Coast, will be on the other end of the schedule in their Thursday afternoon affair. Cincinnati (29-28) and Philadelphia (28-29) are both off Thursday, and Milwaukee (27-28) plays at St. Louis (27-26) in the evening.
Colorado native Kevin Gausman (3-3, 3.76 ERA) undoubtedly would get no pleasure eliminating his home-state team from playoff contention, yet that’s the reality of the situation should he beat them for the second time in his career. He owns a 1-1 record against the Rockies with a 5.87 ERA in three career meetings.
Rockies at Giants Betting Pick for September 24, 2020
The Rockies are all but officially done in the playoff race, and while it would be easy enough to cite Arenado’s untimely injury for the early end of the season, they have nobody to blame but themselves given all the opportunities they created — and failed to take — the last two nights.
Frustration and a second straight out-of-his-league starting pitcher are bound to have an effect Thursday.
Rockies at Giants Betting Pick:
Giants 11, Rockies 1
Rockies at Giants Best Bet for September 24, 2020
We bet the over on Tuesday and came up a run short. We tried again Wednesday and got a push. And we’ll try again on Thursday in hopes that either the Giants cover the number themselves or the Rockies actually get a hit or two with runners on base.
Rockies at Giants Best Bet: OVER 9 total runs (-110)
–Field Level Media
