MLB picks: Orioles vs. Tigers, Rockies vs. Padres

We’ll highlight a pair of series openers, as we give out our best bets in baseball for Thursday night!

First we’ll look in at the meeting between the Baltimore Orioles and the Detroit Tigers. Then we’ll discuss the late-night battle between the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres.

Baltimore Orioles (35-65) at Detroit Tigers (49-55), 7:10 p.m. ET

The Orioles and Tigers should clear the lofty total set for their series opener at Comerica Park.

Alexander Wells will start for visiting Baltimore, and the 24-year-old rookie has done little to distinguish himself through three outings. Wells sports a 4.35 ERA and 1.55 WHIP.

He’ll tackle a Detroit offense that has averaged 6.31 runs per game in 13 games since the All-Star break. That includes its 17-run outburst against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. Akil Baddoo has been at the forefront of the Tigers attack, with eight hits and two home runs in his last 23 at-bats.

This lineup should feast on Wells before it digs into the Orioles’ lacking bullpen (24th by ERA at 4.84).

Casey Mize will counter for Detroit and look to go a little longer than he has in his last four outings (3.91 innings per start). His ERA for the month is 4.60, which likely has Trey Mancini and Cedric Mullins — both of whom are batting .400 over the last seven days — licking their chops.

Once Mize departs, the Tigers’ 27th-ranked bullpen (5.15 ERA) will add some fuel to the fire.

MLB pick: Over

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Colorado Rockies (44-58) at San Diego Padres (59-45), 10:10 p.m. ET

The Rockies have two major negatives working against them — a dreadful road record (11-38) and an atrocious bullpen (5.39 ERA last in the majors). But that doesn’t mean they can’t jump out to an early lead in their series opener against the Padres.

Kyle Freeland will get the call for Colorado, and he has dazzled in his last six starts, with a 2.06 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. Fernando Tatis Jr. and company have not played inspired ball over the last week. The All-Star shortstop has hit .222 and the team has gone 3-3. Freeland can keep this unit in check early.

The slumping Joe Musgrove will respond for San Diego and look to improve on his 5.31 ERA for July (four starts). He’ll have to watch out for Rockies outfielders Raimel Tapia and Charlie Blackmon. The former is fresh off a four-hit game against the Los Angeles Angels, while the latter has hit .366 since the All-Star break, with two home runs.

There’s little chance of a Colorado comeback win, once the Padres get their top-ranked bullpen involved, but first five innings bettors can cash with the underdog Rockies.

MLB pick: Rockies +200 (first five innings)