Barstool Bush
Predictions

Pittsburgh Pirates at Colorado Rockies

By Bush StaffUpdated 65d ago·2 min read
Pittsburgh PiratesPIT(38-37)
Colorado RockiesCOL(28-47)
8—6
FINAL
123456789RHE
PIT
0002123008131
COL
010000032681

Sunday's series finale at Coors Field is set for a 1:10 PM MT first pitch, and the Pirates are lined up to send Paul Skenes to the mound for the getaway game. Skenes is sitting on a 2.85 ERA with 99 strikeouts and has reportedly racked up back-to-back 10-K starts in his latest stretch, which is roughly the worst possible draw for a Rockies lineup that has cycled through replacements all month. Colorado's Sunday starter was still listed as TBD as of the weekend, which tracks for a rotation that has had Kyle Freeland, Tomoyuki Sugano, and Michael Lorenzen carrying the bulk of the workload.

Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
Pirates(38-37)
WWLLW
8
Rockies(28-47)
LWLWL
6
Best BetPirates -151
Pregame

Skenes on the mound against a TBD at Coors with a Rockies lineup missing 3 starting outfielders is about as clean a moneyline lean as you'll get in June. Pittsburgh should be the favorite no matter how much juice the price carries, and any number that lets you buy in cheaper than expected is the value. Back the Pirates.

The matchup gap is real, but Coors is Coors. Skenes has the stuff to neutralize the altitude, and Pittsburgh just dropped 12 runs on the Athletics on Tuesday, so the bats are technically warm. The Pirates are 38-37 and have actually won 3 of their last 5, with the rough spot being a 2-11 beatdown in Sacramento earlier in the week. Sunday is their shot to bank a road series win against the worst team in the National League before flying home.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Jared Jones
(1-1)·5.28 ERA
Jun 15 @ Athletics
L
4.0IP
5ER
4K
1BB
75P
06/21 Lineup
Colorado Rockies
Michael Lorenzen
(3-9)·6.91 ERA
Jun 15 @ Cubs
ND
5.0IP
1ER
5K
1BB
89P
06/21 Lineup
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
(38-37)
Jun 18W@ Athletics12-4
Jun 17W@ Athletics6-5
Jun 16L@ Athletics2-11
Jun 14Lvs Marlins2-4
Jun 13Wvs Marlins3-2
Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
(28-47)
Jun 18L@ Cubs6-8
Jun 17W@ Cubs5-2
Jun 16L@ Cubs4-5
Jun 14W@ Athletics23-9
Jun 14L@ Athletics5-7

Colorado is 28-47 and has been bouncing between blowouts in both directions. They dropped a 23-9 thumping on the Athletics last week and then immediately lost 2 of 3 to the Cubs, including an 8-6 finish on Wednesday. The lineup is also missing pretty much every outfielder you'd want to write down — Brenton Doyle, Jordan Beck, and Mickey Moniak are all on the 10-day IL, and Kris Bryant remains parked on the 60-day with his ongoing back issue. Mickey Moniak is at least starting a rehab assignment in Albuquerque, but he won't be there Sunday.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
(10)
  • Day-To-DayAnthony Solometo (SP) — Solometo underwent left shoulder labrum surgery and is expected to be sidelined until at least April 2027, Mark Chiarelli of Baseball America reports.06/09
  • Day-To-DayMitch Jebb (LF)
  • Day-To-DayOddanier Mosqueda (RP) — Mosqueda will not throw for a couple weeks due to left forearm inflammation, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.05/08
  • Day-To-DayMike Clevinger (RP) — Clevinger is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks after being diagnosed with an MCL sprain in his right knee, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.05/08
  • Day-To-DaySean Sullivan (SP) — Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Sullivan is battling right elbow soreness, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.05/08
  • 10-Day-ILOneil Cruz (CF) — Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Cruz (hand) is facing an estimated recovery timeline of 4-6 weeks, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.06/14
  • 10-Day-ILKonnor Griffin (SS) — Griffin will report to the Pirates' facility in Bradenton, Fla. during the upcoming week to continue rehab for his right forearm strain, Aidan Stepansky of MLB.com reports.06/14
  • 10-Day-ILJoey Bart (C) — Bart (foot) will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday at Single-A Bradenton, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.06/10
  • 15-Day-ILWilber Dotel (RP) — The Pirates recalled Dotel from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.06/13
  • 60-Day-ILChris Devenski (RP) — Devenski (illness) was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.06/07
Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
(14)
  • Day-To-DayBrayan Castillo (RP) — The Rockies announced Monday that Castillo is dealing with right lat tightness and has been shut down from throwing while undergoing treatment for the injury, TheDNVR.com reports.05/08
  • Day-To-DayCase Williams (SP) — Williams is currently slowed by a stress reaction in his right triceps, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.05/08
  • Day-To-DayJared Thomas (CF) — The Rockies announced Monday that Thomas hasn't been participating in spring training while he recovers from offseason surgery to address a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist, TheDNVR.com reports.05/08
  • 10-Day-ILBrenton Doyle (CF) — Doyle (oblique) worked in the batting cage Monday, MLB.com reports.06/17
  • 10-Day-ILJordan Beck (LF) — Beck (hamstring) stretched and did running drills prior to Tuesday's game against the Cubs, MLB.com reports.06/17
  • 10-Day-ILMickey Moniak (LF) — Moniak (ankle) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, MLB.com reports.06/17
  • 15-Day-ILTanner Gordon (RP) — Gordon (0-1) took the loss Sunday, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk over three-plus innings against San Francisco. He struck out two.06/06
  • 60-Day-ILChase Dollander (SP) — Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said Friday that Dollander will likely undergo surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow, Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette reports.06/13
  • 60-Day-ILWelinton Herrera (RP) — Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer announced Monday that Herrera (elbow) has been diagnosed with a torn UCL and will miss the remainder of the season, Jack Janes of MLB.com reports.06/02
  • 60-Day-ILMcCade Brown (SP) — Brown (shoulder) had been scheduled to throw a live bullpen session this weekend, MLB.com reports.06/01
  • 60-Day-ILJose Quintana (SP) — The Rockies placed Quintana on the 15-day injured list Monday with a left elbow sprain.05/28
  • 60-Day-ILRJ Petit (RP) — The Rockies transferred Petit (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILPierson Ohl (RP) — The Rockies placed Ohl (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILKris Bryant (DH) — Bryant said Tuesday that the ongoing pain in his back continues to prevent him from participating in baseball activities, though he's still consulting with doctors and trainers for potential rehab options, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.05/08

The Pirates are without Oneil Cruz, who is looking at a 4-6 week timeline with a hand injury per Ben Cherington, plus shortstop Konnor Griffin still rehabbing a forearm strain and Joey Bart working back from a foot issue at Single-A Bradenton. Pittsburgh's bullpen is also banged up, with Mike Clevinger out roughly six weeks on an MCL sprain and Chris Devenski now on the 60-day. None of that changes much if Skenes does what Skenes usually does — get to the 6th with single digits on the scoreboard and let the back end of the pen close it out.

Sunday at Coors with a TBD on one side and Skenes on the other is exactly the kind of spot where the Pirates look like an actual contending team for nine innings. The Rockies' counter is that their park bails everybody out eventually. If Pittsburgh can put up a crooked number early, this one tilts fast.

Sources

MLBPittsburgh PiratesColorado RockiesPolymarketKalshiJared JonesMichael Lorenzen