Free MLB Picks Today: Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 6/23/23

Nolan Jones will be looking to extend his 15-game on-base streak as the Colorado Rockies (29-48) host the Los Angeles Angels (41-35) at Coors Field on Friday to open a three-game Interleague series.

The Angels were just swept in two games against the Dodgers, dropping the finale 2-0 on Wednesday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Luis Rengifo had the only hits for Los Angeles, going 2 for 3 with a double.

The Rockies are playing the first of nine games at home after concluding a difficult 10-game road trip (2-8). They are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Reds, dropping the finale 5-3 on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park for their eighth straight loss.

Randal Grichuk went 2 for 4 with a solo home run and a double. Elehuris Montero added a solo home run. The teams are meeting for the first time since July 28, 2021, when the Angels finished off a 2-1 series win with an 8-7 victory at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

ON THE MOUND

Patrick Sandoval (4-6, 4.52 ERA) is slated to get the start for Los Angeles. The left-hander threw seven scoreless innings in his last start, a 3-0 road win over the Royals on June 16. He earned the win, yielding four hits while striking out six and walking four.

Southpaw Kyle Freeland (4-8, 4.48 ERA) gets the start for Colorado. In his last start on June 15, Freeland took the loss on the road against the Braves. He threw 4.1 innings and gave up seven runs on nine hits, striking out one and walking three in the 8-3 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

The Los Angeles offense is averaging 4.8 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .253/.328/.433. Shohei Ohtani leads the team in OPS at .993. He is slashing .292/.377/.616 with 24 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 49 runs over 74 games.

Over the last five games, though, Los Angeles has averaged only 3.4 runs a game while performing worse across the board (.222/.300/.426).

Against lefties like Freeland this season, the Halos have a .757 OPS. Ohtani also is the team’s most potent producer against left-handers with a .842 OPS in 78 at-bats.

Colorado is slashing .255/.316/.404 for the season and averaging 4.4 runs per game. Ryan McMahon leads the team with a .850 OPS. The third baseman has 12 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 42 runs scored with a slash line of .269/.352/.498.

The Rockies have a .656 OPS against left-handers in 2023, the third lowest in MLB. With a .751 OPS over 69 at-bats, Ezequiel Tovar has been their best hitter against left-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Los Angeles is 21-19 in away games in 2023, scoring 4.9 runs per game while allowing 4.5 runs. Colorado has gone 16-19 at Coors Field this season, averaging 5.1 runs per game while surrendering 6.3. Los Angeles is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings at Coors Field with an average scoreline of 6.5-3.6.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Angels are third in the AL West, six games behind the division-leading Rangers. The Rockies are fifth in the NL West, 17 games behind the Diamondbacks.