MLB picks: Rockies vs. Rangers, Astros vs. Mariners

There are 11 games on the MLB docket this Monday, but we’ve managed to narrow things down to our two favorite sides for the evening!

We’ll start with a look at the interleague matchup between the Colorado Rockies and the Texas Rangers. Then we’ll highlight a meeting between the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners.

Colorado Rockies (60-70) at Texas Rangers (45-85), 8:05 p.m. ET

The Rangers will send a third rookie to the mound in a one-week span when A.J. Alexy – part of the 2017 Yu Darvish deal – makes his MLB debut against the Rockies. Texas is an appealing home underdog in this spot.

Alexy owns a 1.66 ERA over 65 innings in the minors this year, 14 2/3 of which he spent with Triple-A Round Rock. He couldn’t have picked a much better team to make his major-league debut against than Colorado, which is 29th in runs per game on the road in 2021 (3.22).

One might think the Rangers’ bullpen would be flagging with all the extra work they’ve had to put in behind rookie starters, but this unit has been thriving of late. Texas is eighth by reliever ERA over the last two weeks (3.50).

German Marquez responds for the Rockies, sporting an inflated 5.31 ERA over 61 innings pitched on the road this year. He’s backed by a Colorado relief corps that’s a modest 18th by ERA over the last 14 days (4.50).

Rangers shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa has reached base safely in 11 straight games, hitting .367 in that span, so look for him to factor into the equation on offense.

MLB pick: Rangers +130

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Houston Astros (77-53) at Seattle Mariners (70-61), 10:10 p.m. ET

The Mariners hold value as a home underdog against the Astros on Monday night.

Luis Garcia will take the hill for Houston, needing to improve on his 4.97 road ERA (54 1/3 innings). He’ll have to beware of the hot-hitting former Astro Abraham Toro, who’s batting .346 over the last seven days. Toro has already done some damage against his former squad this year, going 5-for-16 (.313) with a pair of homers.

Chris Flexen counters for Seattle, boasting a strong 2.70 home ERA this season (76 2/3 innings). He’s backed by a Mariners bullpen that owns a decent 3.88 ERA over the last two weeks, good for 11th in the majors. By contrast, the Astros bullpen is 28th by ERA in the same span (5.63).

MLB pick: Mariners +135