PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's MLB April Total of the Month
(MLB) Washington vs. Colorado,
Total: 11.50 | 100.00 Over
Result: Loss
Total: 11.50 | 100.00 Over
Result: Loss
It's easy to think a lot of runs are going to be scored here after the Nationals' 15-12 win Tuesday. Certainly the oddsmaker does setting such a high total.
I understand this game is at Coors Field and the Rockies are swinging hot bats. Trea Turner is back for Washington making the Nationals' lineup more dangerous.
But it takes a lot to go over this high of a total - and I don't see it happening here.
Let's start with the starters: Tanner Roark versus Tyler Chatwood. Neither are elite pitchers. Both, however, are underrated. Roarke especially has proven solid the past couple of seasons. The under has cashed only twice in Roark's past 12 starts. The Rockies haven't faced Roark in two years having just seen him for one inning of relief in 2015. Chatwood has made only one start against the Nationals and that was back in 2013. So the hitters aren't going to be familar with the two starting pitchers.
The Rockies' bullpen entered this series with the lowest ERA in the majors. Neither closer Greg Holland, nor any of Colorado's two best set-up relievers, pitched last night.
There is a weather factor, too, that favors an under. The forecast is for temperatures in the mid-to-low 50's, which feels colder in Denver, and for the wind to be blowing in at 8-to-10 mph.
The slated home plate umpire is Marty Foster, who has an under bias. Since 2012, the under has cashed 56 percent of the time Foster has been behind the plate.
I understand this game is at Coors Field and the Rockies are swinging hot bats. Trea Turner is back for Washington making the Nationals' lineup more dangerous.
But it takes a lot to go over this high of a total - and I don't see it happening here.
Let's start with the starters: Tanner Roark versus Tyler Chatwood. Neither are elite pitchers. Both, however, are underrated. Roarke especially has proven solid the past couple of seasons. The under has cashed only twice in Roark's past 12 starts. The Rockies haven't faced Roark in two years having just seen him for one inning of relief in 2015. Chatwood has made only one start against the Nationals and that was back in 2013. So the hitters aren't going to be familar with the two starting pitchers.
The Rockies' bullpen entered this series with the lowest ERA in the majors. Neither closer Greg Holland, nor any of Colorado's two best set-up relievers, pitched last night.
There is a weather factor, too, that favors an under. The forecast is for temperatures in the mid-to-low 50's, which feels colder in Denver, and for the wind to be blowing in at 8-to-10 mph.
The slated home plate umpire is Marty Foster, who has an under bias. Since 2012, the under has cashed 56 percent of the time Foster has been behind the plate.