Los Angeles Dodgers vs Colorado Rockies Preview: Scherzer Seeks to Stretch Streak and Earn First Coors Field Win

It is not yet a foregone conclusion that Max Scherzer will win his fourth Cy Young Award, but it is pretty close. Corbin Burnes, Walker Buehler, and Zack Wheeler have all had great seasons, but Scherzer has bulldozed his way into being a strong MLB betting odds favorite by being unbeatable over the last few months.

As good of a season as he was having while with the Washington Nationals, he has taken things to another level since his trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers. As a result, he is poised to become only the fifth pitcher in MLB history with four or more Cy Young awards. The others? Roger Clemens (seven), Randy Johnson (five), Steve Carlton (four), and Greg Maddux (four). That is some elite company.

In the meantime, he and the Dodgers are trying to chase down the San Francisco Giants in the NL West and avoid having to deal with the wild-card playoff. That quest took a hit with last night's 10-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies, which puts the Dodgers two games behind the Giants with ten games left in the regular season.

Los Angeles Dodgers (97-55) vs Colorado Rockies (71-80), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, 3:10 p.m. ET

Probable Pitchers

• Los Angeles Dodgers: Max Scherzer (15-4, 2.08 ERA – 7-0, 0.78 ERA with the Dodgers)
• Colorado Rockies: Kyle Freeland (6-8, 4.50 ERA)

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Colorado Rockies MLB Betting Odds

Moneyline

• Los Angeles Dodgers -270
• Colorado Rockies +220

Total

• OVER 10 (-118)
• UNDER 10 (-104)

Run Line

• Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-162)
• Colorado Rockies +1.5 (+134)

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Colorado Rockies odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Thursday, September 23, 2021 at 2:10 p.m. ET. Want to see betting odds from several top online sportsbooks for the day's other MLB matchups? Check out our MLB odds.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Colorado Rockies MLB Betting Consensus

Moneyline

• 100% Los Angeles Dodgers
• 0% Colorado Rockies

Total (at O/U 10.5)

• 20% OVER 10.5
• 80% UNDER 10.5

Run Line (at -/+1.5)

• 80% Los Angeles Dodgers
• 20% Colorado Rockies

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Colorado Rockies Matchup: MLB Betting Picks, Odds, Stats and More

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Colorado Rockies Betting Outlook

Scherzer has yet to win in five career starts at Coors Field and is only 2-4 with a 4.55 ERA in ten career starts against the Rockies. But his first start at Coors Field since 2016 is as fine a chance as he will ever have, given how he has pitched over the last few months.

Since dropping to 4-4 on May 30, Scherzer is 11-0 with a 1.91 ERA in 17 starts. In his last 99.2 innings, Scherzer has allowed 21 earned runs, with 11 of those coming in back-to-back starts against the San Diego Padres in July. Since joining the Dodgers, he has given up all of five earned runs in 58 innings.

As good as all of that is, he has been especially stingy over the last month. In his last five starts, totaling 36.2 innings, he has allowed a single run, which was unearned. In that stretch, he is 4-0, has allowed only 14 hits and three walks, and has racked up 48 strikeouts. That dominance has pushed him past Buehler and Burnes into the driver's seat for the Cy Young.

The Rockies are one of the league's best teams at home, and that is reflected in the numbers for most of their starting pitchers. Freeland, however, has a 5.36 ERA at Coors Field. However, he has pitched rather well against the Dodgers this season, despite a 1-2 record in his three starts. In those starts against the reigning champs, he has a 2.84 ERA, and all three starts have been quality starts.

MLB Betting Trends to Consider for Los Angeles Dodgers vs Colorado Rockies

• When the Rockies have been a home underdog this season, the over is 19-23-2.
• The over is 33-38-4 when the Dodgers have been a road favorite this season.
• In the Rockies' division games this season, the over is s 31-38.
• The over is is 32-34-3 in the Dodgers' division games this season.
• In the Rockies' home games this season, the over is 32-40-2.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Colorado Rockies Best Bets

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Colorado Rockies UNDER 10

Between how dominant Scherzer has been, Freeland's numbers against the Dodgers this season, and the above trends, there is plenty to offset the risk of backing an under at Coors Field.

As a backup, or as the main play if you are not confident in the under for the entire game, the under for the first five innings has a lot of value as well. But the full game play accounts for if there happens to be early runs and then little else, and I personally prefer that move.