The Colorado Rockies put up Coors Field-like numbers in the series opener at Detroit last night to end a season-long eight-game losing streak. Today the Tigers look to draw even as Doug Fister returns from his second stint on the disabled list
Rockies starter Christian Friedrich has a 3-0 record in four road starts this season
Colorado is 10-17 on the road after last night’s 12-4 win and 1-9 against Interleague opponents after going 17-13 the past couple seasons. Last night’s loss snapped an eight-game slump that stretches back to a series in Arizona where left-hander Christian Friedrich led the Rocks to their only win of the series.
Friedrich (4-2, 5.85 ERA) was roughed up by the Angels in his next outing but he’s performed well on the road, going 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. The team has given Friedrich 4.50 runs of support in those four starts, going 3-1 and that’s .69 runs more than the Rockies’ season-average away from Coors.
Detroit will go with Doug Fister (0-3, 3.15 ERA) in game 2 of this series and the Tigers are hoping to see more from Fister after his second stint on the disable list this season. Fister went 0-2 with a 5.60 ERA in three home starts and Detroit scored an average of just 3.00 runs to support him.
The Tigers are 13-17 at home and 1-12 their past 13 games against a left-handed starter, hitting .228 at Comerica Park. Baseball odds favor Detroit -150 and they are 19-14 off a loss but laying chalk like this on the Tigers has cost bettors seven times out of 10 in 2012.
BOTTOM LINE
Detroit is 1-5 in Fister’s six starts for a loss of -4.02 units with 2 overs and 4 unders. Friedrich has treated bettors to a modest +1.33 units of profit but as noted above, his strength is pitching on the road. Colorado is 1-7-1 in nine road series this season but they saw the ball well last night and will look to build on that success. As a value play for Saturday, take Colorado!
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