The Colorado Rockies are set to face off against the Detroit Tigers in the second game of a three-game series on Wednesday. While the Rockies have been eliminated from postseason play, the Tigers are in the hunt for one of the three available American League wild card spots. Colorado recently secured a 4-1 win against the Milwaukee Brewers, taking two out of three from the Central Division leaders. However, they remain far behind, sitting 32 games back in the National League West. On the other hand, Detroit triumphed over the Oakland Athletics with a 9-1 victory and also won two out of three games against them over the weekend. Currently, Detroit is trailing first-place Cleveland by nine games in the American League Central but is just three games shy of the third and final wild card spot held by Minnesota. The Rockies will be without six pitchers and designated hitter Kris Bryant, while the Tigers will miss three pitchers and position players Wenceel Perez and Javier Baez.
This article was prepared before the teams’ match-up on Tuesday.
Rockies’ Hitting Struggles and Pitching Woes
At the plate, Colorado ranks 14th in slugging percentage (.399) and 15th in batting average (.242). They are 22nd in runs scored with a total of 605 and 24th in on-base percentage (.305). Michael Toglia leads the Rockies with 23 home runs, while Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle follow closely with 22 each. Doyle stands out with 66 RBIs, and Tovar is right behind him with 64. The Rockies have managed to hit 246 doubles, 22 triples, and 157 home runs, totaling 425 extra base hits throughout 144 games.
On the mound, the Rockies are struggling significantly. They rank 19th in Quality Starts (49) and sit at the bottom (30th) for ERA (5.40), WHIP (1.50), and batting average allowed (.284). Cal Quantrill leads the team with 8 wins, while Austin Gomber, who is slated to start on Wednesday, holds the best ERA among starters at 4.50. Ryan Feltner leads the squad with 121 strikeouts. Gomber’s record stands at 5-10, with 108 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.26.
Tigers’ Mixed Performance at the Plate and Solid Pitching
The Detroit Tigers currently rank 20th in runs scored (608) and are 22nd in slugging percentage (.386). With a batting average of .234, they sit at 28th in on-base percentage (.298). Riley Greene leads the team with 20 home runs and 61 RBIs. Matt Vierling follows with 16 home runs, while Colt Keith has contributed 55 RBIs. The Tigers have also recorded 219 doubles, 40 triples, and 147 home runs, totaling 406 extra base hits in 144 games.
When it comes to pitching, Detroit stands out with impressive numbers. They rank 2nd in WHIP (1.18) and 4th in ERA (3.69). Additionally, they are 9th in batting average allowed (.236) and 16th in Quality Starts (51). Tarik Skubal leads the Tigers with 16 wins, 208 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.53 among starters. Casey Mize is set to take the mound on Wednesday; his record is currently 2-6, with an ERA of 4.30, 64 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.41.
Smart Betting Tips for Rockies vs. Tigers
In their recent matchups, Colorado has struggled against Detroit, losing 10 of the last 14 encounters. This September, the Rockies have faced challenges, dropping 15 of their last 20 games. Conversely, the Tigers have shown resilience, winning 11 of their last 16 overall. With a strong pitching performance this season, Detroit’s rank in WHIP and ERA has kept them in contention for an American League Wild Card berth. Meanwhile, the Rockies, eliminated from playoff contention and sitting at the bottom of the National League West, are facing a tough road ahead. Their pitching statistics starkly contrast with those of Detroit, as Colorado ranks last in ERA, WHIP, and batting average allowed. Austin Gomber’s recent performance has been shaky over the last three appearances, yielding eight runs in 20 innings, resulting in two losses for the Rockies. Meanwhile, Casey Mize has shown improvement, allowing only six runs and 14 hits in his last 16.2 innings, leading to two wins for Detroit during that stretch.
