COLORADO vs. LA ANGELS 8/28/2018 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview

The Colorado Rockies wasted an opportunity to grab a share of first place in the National League West but hope to receive another chance when they visit the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday for the finale of their two-game interleague set. Colorado remained one game behind division-leading Arizona after dropping a 10-7 decision in Monday’s series opener.

The Rockies also trail Milwaukee by 1 1/2 games for the second wild-card spot in the NL as they battled back from a 5-2 deficit with five consecutive runs before allowing five in the bottom of the eighth inning en route to their third loss in four contests. DJ LeMahieu concluded a 3-for-5 performance with his first career grand slam in the top of the eighth that gave Colorado a 7-5 lead and Carlos Gonzalez recorded his second three-hit performance in three contests to extend his hitting streak to five games. Eric Young Jr. put Los Angeles ahead for good with a two-run single during the team’s late rally, which helped end its six-game losing streak. Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani both homered in the setback, with the former adding a single for his third two-hit effort in four games since returning from the disabled list.

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (11-7, 2.96 ERA) vs. Angels RH Noe Ramirez (4-4, 4.69)

Freeland makes his second attempt at a career-high 12th victory after settling for a no-decision against San Diego on Thursday despite allowing only two runs in 6 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old native of Denver also looks to even his record and lower his 3.58 ERA on the road, which is more than a full run higher than his mark at home (2.27). Freeland never has faced the Angels but is 5-0 with a 1.81 ERA in seven career interleague starts.

Ramirez, who recorded his first career save by working a perfect inning on 11 pitches in the series opener, will make his first major-league start in the finale as the Angels go with the ever-popular “bullpen game” approach. The 28-year-old Californian has made 60 relief appearances this season and 103 overall since making his debut with Boston in 2015. Ramirez met the Rockies for the first time on May 8, when he yielded two runs on two hits and a walk in one inning at Colorado.

WALK-OFFS

1. LeMahieu has gone 7-for-13 over his last three contests.

2. Ohtani (elbow) threw 50 pitches in a simulated game prior to the series opener and feels he is ready to rejoin Los Angeles’ rotation.

3. Trout has gone 6-for-14 with a homer, two RBIs and five runs scored since returning from his wrist injury and a personal leave for the death of his brother-in-law.

PREDICTION: Rockies 7, Angels 3