The Chicago Cubs roll out right-hander Javier Assad, while left-hander Austin Gomber takes the mound for the Colorado Rockies on Friday night at Coors Field. Opening pitch is set for 8:40 p.m. ET on MLB.TV.
Let's take a look at the latest odds and cook up a Cubs vs Rockies parlay for Friday night.
Tony Sartori's Cubs vs Rockies MLB Parlay Picks for Friday
- Over 10.5 (-120)
- Javier Assad Under 4.5 Strikeouts (-140)
- Austin Gomber Under 3.5 Strikeouts (-118)
Parlay Odds: +379 (FanDuel)
Remember to bet responsibly — this is a long shot for a reason.
We should look to fade both starting pitchers in this high-altitude environment. Let's start with Assad, who possesses a 3.14 ERA and 1.34 WHIP through 26 starts this season.
While a 3.14 ERA is a strong mark, his underlying metrics suggest regression is looming. Assad sports a 4.58 xERA and ranks in the bottom half of the league in xBA, walk rate and barrel rate.
This expected regression is likely to come to fruition against the Rockies, a team that Assad owns a 4.70 ERA against through four career meetings.
Meanwhile, Gomber should be a great fade candidate. The southpaw is 5-10 through 27 starts with a 4.50 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. He also ranks in the bottom third of the league in xERA, xBA, average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit rate.
Like Assad, Gomber possesses a poor track record against tonight's opponent. Through eight career appearances against the Cubs, Gomber is 0-2 with a 6.62 ERA.
We are also going to fade Assad in the prop market. This season, the right-hander ranks in the bottom quarter of the league in chase, whiff and strikeout rates.
Currently, you can find his strikeout prop at 4.5, a total he has failed to surpass in eight of his past 11 starts. He's also failed to clear this total in two of his past three starts against Colorado.
Sticking with the trend of fading both starting pitchers, Gomber should also be a good fade candidate in the prop market. The southpaw ranks in the 15th percentile or lower in chase, whiff and strikeout rates.
His strikeout prop is at a low 3.5, but Gomber failed to clear that number in his last start against Chicago. Looking at it from the other side, the Cubs rank 11th this season in strikeout rate when facing left-handed pitching.