Free MLB Picks Today: Philadelphia Phillies vs Colorado Rockies 4/20/23

Brandon Marsh will be looking to extend his 15-game on-base streak as the Philadelphia Phillies (8-11) host the Colorado Rockies (5-14) at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday for the first of a four-game series. The Rockies are playing their first of seven games on the road.

They are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Pirates, dropping the finale 14-3 on Wednesday at Coors Field for their eighth straight loss. Ryan McMahon was 3 for 5 with a double and one RBI.

The Phillies are back home for a seven-game homestand after finishing up a seven-game road trip (4-3). They won two of three against the White Sox in their last series, taking the finale 5-2 on Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. Trea Turner went 3 for 5 with a home run and a double. He scored two runs and had two RBIs.

Marsh added a solo home run. The teams are meeting for the first time this season. Last season, the Phillies won five of the seven games between the teams, including a sweep in their most recent meeting, a four-game set at Citizens Bank Park in April.

ON THE MOUND

Ryan Feltner (0-2, 8.78 ERA) is in line to start for Colorado. The RHP allowed five runs over 3.2 innings in his last start, a 9-2 road defeat against the Mariners on Saturday. He took the loss, giving up five hits while striking out five and walking three.Feltner made one start against the Phillies in 2022, a 7-3 road loss on April 27.

He surrendered four runs on seven hits over five innings, striking out seven and walking two. For Philadelphia, southpaw Matt Strahm (1-1, 2.13 ERA) gets the ball. In his last start on Saturday, Strahm took the loss on the road against the Reds. He threw 2.2 innings and gave up three runs on two hits, striking out six and walking three in the 13-0 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

The Colorado offense is averaging 3.8 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .256/.309/.398. Elias Diaz leads the team in OPS at .922. The first baseman is slashing .333/.393/.529 with two home runs, 10 RBIs, and seven runs over 18 games.

Over the last five games, though, Colorado has averaged only 2.2 runs a game while performing worse across the board (.209/.279/.313). Against lefties like Strahm this season, the Rockies have a .697 OPS. Kris Bryant is the team’s most potent producer against left-handers with a 1.146 OPS in 18 at-bats.

Philadelphia is slashing .293/.348/.464 for the season and averaging 4.6 runs per game. Five Phillies hitters have an OPS of .800 or better, led by Marsh (1.196).

The outfield has three home runs, 11 RBIs, and 11 runs scored with a slash line of .378/.440/.756. The Phils have ann .847 OPS against right-handers in 2023, third highest in the league. With a 1.022 OPS over 37 at-bats, Alec Bohm has been their best hitter against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Colorado is on a seven-game losing streak in road games, bringing their record to 2-7 in 2023. The Rockies have scored 3.0 runs per game away from home, while allowing 5.2 runs. Philadelphia has gone 3-3 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 5.5 runs per game while surrendering 4.0. In the last 10 games at Citizens Bank Park between the teams, Philadelphia is 7-3 with an average scoreline of 5.6-3.6.