The National League series concludes as the Colorado Rockies (53-89, 5th NL West) face off against the Milwaukee Brewers (81-60, 1st NL Central). The Rockies pulled off a surprising 3-2 victory in the series opener on Friday night. The second game took place Saturday evening (Note: This article was written prior to Saturday’s results). Currently, Colorado leads the season series 3-2. Kyle Freeland (5.30 ERA) will take the mound for the Rockies, while Freddy Peralta (3.75 ERA) will pitch for the Brewers. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:10 PM EST at American Family Field in Milwaukee.
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Rockies Face Postseason Reality
The Colorado Rockies have officially become one of three teams in Major League Baseball that are out of contention for the postseason. They join the Miami Marlins and the Chicago White Sox on the sidelines as the season wraps up. Recently, the Rockies secured victories in their last two games, defeating the Atlanta Braves before claiming their first win against Milwaukee. In Friday’s game, starting pitcher Ryan Feltner delivered a strong performance, allowing just one run over six innings while striking out six batters.
Despite a challenging season reflected in his 2-10 record, Feltner’s struggles can often be attributed to a lack of offensive support. He has notched five consecutive no-decisions, holding opponents to three runs or fewer in four of those outings. After the game, Rockies manager Bud Black addressed the media, stating, “It’s no fun as a starting pitcher when you look at your record. It can be tough, but he’s done a good job of keeping his chin up.” Michael Toglia stepped up in Friday’s game, hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning, marking his 23rd home run of the season along with 50 RBIs. Ryan McMahon, who has emerged as a key player, contributed with a .269 batting average, 17 home runs, and 59 RBIs.
Kyle Freeland will make his 18th start of the season. This 31-year-old left-hander has a 4-7 record, and the Rockies have lost three of his last four starts. With an ERA of 5.30, Freeland has recorded 72 strikeouts while allowing 14 home runs throughout the year. In his most recent outing, he pitched five innings, yielding only one run against the Braves but ultimately suffered a loss as his team’s offense faltered.
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Brewers Maintain Division Dominance
While some teams have been eliminated from postseason play, the Milwaukee Brewers remain on the verge of clinching a playoff spot. They currently lead the NL Central by a commanding 9.5 games over the second-place Chicago Cubs, boasting the best record among division leaders. Despite their strong position, the Brewers have stumbled recently, losing four of their last five games, including Friday’s contest. Their offense has struggled, with none of the top six hitters in the lineup managing a hit in that game.
The loss overshadowed an impressive ten-strikeout performance from starting pitcher Frankie Montas, who allowed the decisive three-run homer to Toglia before exiting. Aaron Ashby came in to finish the game, surrendering only one hit in three innings, but the Brewers could not capitalize offensively. After the game, manager Pat Murphy praised his pitchers, stating, “Frankie was good, and Ashby was tremendous.” Willy Adames has been a standout player, recently reaching his 100th RBI of the season, while leading the team with 29 home runs. William Contreras, the catcher, boasts a team-high batting average of .276, along with 20 home runs and 80 RBIs.
Freddy Peralta will make his 29th start of the season, the most for any Milwaukee pitcher. The 28-year-old right-hander holds a 10-7 record and has contributed to three of the Brewers’ last four victories. With 175 strikeouts, he ranks 11th in the majors, having allowed 24 home runs. His last outing saw him pitch 5.1 innings against the Cardinals, allowing three earned runs while securing a win.
Betting Insights for Rockies vs. Brewers
With their ace on the mound, the Brewers are poised to break their recent losing streak against one of the league’s weaker teams. Milwaukee struggled offensively in the series opener, but they are unlikely to repeat that performance. Kyle Freeland has faced difficulties, losing three of his last four starts and not achieving a scoreless outing since mid-June. Freeland’s strikeout rate is low, with only 72 strikeouts in 90 innings pitched. In contrast, Peralta’s 175 strikeouts over 153 innings highlight his capability as a dominant pitcher. The Brewers are determined to regain their winning momentum as they approach the postseason.
Expect the Brewers to cover the runline in this matchup.
