MLB Betting: Rays vs. Rockies Odds & Predictions: June 18th 2009

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Colorado Rockies o9.0 (-110) - Thu Jun 18th 2009 3:10p
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Two of baseball’s hottest teams square off in the Mile High city as the the Rockies host the Devil Rays in the series finale at Coors Field.

Colorado has won 12 of 13 games while Tampa Bay has taken six of it’s last seven and are 12-5 over their past 17 outings. BOTH teams are getting it down offensively The Rays lead the majors with 382 runs and boast a lineup of bashers from Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria to Ben Zobrist and B.J. Upton. Carl Crawford has been the table setter all season long hitting .314.

The Rockies improvement at the plate and on the mound has moved them to within sniffing distance of the wild card race in the National League.

Since Jim Tracy replaced Clint Hurdle as manager on May 29th, the Rockies are averaging over six runs per game and are hitting just under .300 as a team (.298). Familiar names and faces like Todd Helton, Brad Hawpe and Ian Stewart have led the charge. Hawpe is having an all-star season. He’s hitting .347 with 47 rbi’s.
Matt Garza gets the start today for the Rays and while he’s 4-4 with a respectable 3.63 ERA, he’s struggled in his last two starts failing to make it out of the sixth inning. Opposing Garza will be Ubaldo Jiminez who is a big reason why the Colorado pitching staff has done an about face. The Rockies have been outstanding during their streak posting a 3.31ERA.

Jimenez has been a big part of that success. While Garza has been off in HIS last two starts, Jiminez has won two straight games including his second career complete game. Overall Jiminez is 5-6 with a 3.92 ERA. MLB scouts will tell you he’s got what it takes to become a top-tier pitcher but only time will tell if he can live up to expectations.

The right-hander, who has battled problems with control and efficiency in the past, has thrown 17 innings while winning his last two starts, pitching his second career complete game in Friday’s 6-4 win over Seattle.

In what is virtually a “pick ‘em” game, betters have a couple of ways to go here. Ride the home team that’s streaking to a tune of 12-1 or favor the AL squad that scored 12 runs on Tuesday night. Keep in mind Colorado is 17-9-1 to the OVER at home this season but both the Rocks’ and the Rays are just 2-3 to the high side in there last five games.

This is one of the toughest games on the board to cap. I still think though despite Colorado’s 12-1 streak, Tampa Bay is the better team and should take the rubber match of this three game series.

One final note: Jiminez is just 1-3 in day games with an ERA of 5.34. He’s allowed 29 hits in 28.2 innings. If he’s not spot on with his control today, The Devil Rays and they’re power packed lineup will make him pay. This figures to be one of those days where runs not pitching will be at a premium. Take the balls out of the humidor and lets get ready to go.