The Philadelphia Phillies host the Colorado Rockies on Monday, March 31, 2025. First pitch from Citizens Bank Park is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET; the game will be broadcast on NBCS-PH+.
Philadelphia is a massive favorite on Monday as it hosts the Rockies for its home opener at Citizens Bank Park. With 77-degree temperatures expected for the first pitch, there should be a great crowd on hand to cheer on a Phillies side that is likely to contend for a World Series once again.
The Phillies are expected to have a considerable starting pitching advantage, as Cristopher Sanchez will take on veteran righty German Marquez.
Find my MLB betting preview and Rockies vs Phillies prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, betting trends, injury reports and more below.
Place This Parlay Instantly!My Rockies vs Phillies Prediction
- Rockies vs Phillies picks: Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 (-122)
My Rockies vs Phillies best bet is on the Phillies to cover the spread. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Rockies vs Phillies Odds
Monday, Mar 31
3:05 p.m. ET
NBCS-PH+
Rockies OddsSpreadTotalMoneyline+1.5
+110
8.5
-110o / -110u
+230
Phillies OddsSpreadTotalMoneyline-1.5
-130
8.5
-110o / -110u
-285
Nick Martin’s Rockies vs Phillies Preview
Colorado Rockies Betting Preview: Not Much to Root For
The major public projection systems project the Rockies to be the worst team in baseball. While it would be fair to say Colorado’s roster isn’t worse than it was in 2024, when it earned just 61 wins, it is likely to be beaten up pretty heavily by the rest of the NL West.
The Rockies are expected to have one of the worst starting rotations in baseball. Kyle Freeland, Ryan Feltner, Antonio Senzatela and Marquez all have large samples of unconvincing work at the MLB level. Chase Dollander offers the team an intriguing young arm, but it’s still tough to imagine Colorado receiving many quality starts this season.
Marquez is back after missing most of last season with an elbow injury. The 30-year-old righty has pitched to a 4.42 ERA across nine MLB seasons. He’s made only five starts since the beginning of the 2023 season and holds a 5.25 ERA and a 4.00 xFIP in those outings. He also had a Stuff+ rating of 94 in those outings and a Location+ rating of 99.
Marquez pitched to an ERA of 5.74 across 15 2/3 innings of work in Spring Training, allowing a WHIP of 1.723.
The Rockies lineup held an offensive wRC+ rating of 82 in 2024, and a batting average of just .242. They were even less effective versus left-handed pitching, with a wRC+ of 78 and batted .220.
If Ezequiel Tover can exhibit improved plate discipline, the talented 23-year-old shortstop could take considerable steps forward offensively and provide a bright spot in the lineup. Kris Bryant struggled to stay healthy last season and slugged just .302 across 155 plate appearance. Bryant could potentially provide more production to the group, but the Rockies lineup certainly does not look very convincing.
In their season-opening series versus the Tampa Bay Rays, the Rockies hit just .220 and struck out 29.2% of the time.
Philadelphia Phillies Betting Preview: Sanchez Keeps Improving
While the Phillies roster looks excellent on paper, they are considered the third favorite to win what figures to be a highly competitive NL East.
In 2024, the Phillies rotation finished with a seventh-ranked ERA of 3.81 and held the second-best xFIP in baseball. It should be comparably dominant this season, as Jesus Luzardo will join Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Sanchez and Ranger Suarez to round out a unit which should feature five better-than-average starters.
Sanchez appears poised to build on his 2024 breakout campaign. He pitched well in Spring Training after reportedly adding 20 pounds to his frame since the end of last season. His added size did translate to some extra velocity this spring as he touched 99 MPH and threw 10 pitches clocked at 98 MPH, something he did just once last season.
Sanchez held an ERA of 1.62 across 16 2/3 innings of work in Spring Training, and a K/9 rate of 10.3.
In 2024, Sanchez pitched 181 2/3 innings and held an ERA of 3.32, with an xERA of 3.56. He had a Pitching+ rating of 109, which was the best mark of his career by a considerable margin. He also features an excellent changeup, which plays well off his sinker. In fact, batters hit just .177 off his changeup last season.
The Phillies lineup ranked eighth in wRC+ last season, and as all of the key pieces remain with the team, it should be comparably dominant in 2025. Philadelphia had a strong offensive start to the season over the weekend versus the Washington Nationals, hitting a wRC+ of 147 with a slug-rate of .468.
The Phillies are expected to be without Trea Turner in this matchup, who is listed as day-to-day with a back injury.
Rockies vs Phillies Prediction, Betting Analysis
The Phillies posted a dominant record of 54-27 at home last season, and have a great opportunity to send the home crowd home happy in this favorable matchup.
Sanchez appears likely to build on his tremendous 2024 campaign, which ultimately ended with a 10th-place finish in the NL Cy Young vote. He was fantastic in Spring Training, and every report surrounding his work was positive. He should be able to fare well in this matchup versus a thin Rockies lineup, which is widely expected to be among the worst in baseball.
Marquez is expected to be a league-average starter this season, and if the Phillies can get to him early, they will get into a soft Rockies bullpen.
At -122, I see value in backing the Phillies to win by two or more runs.
Pick: Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 (-122, Play to -130)
Moneyline
Betting the Phillies to win in any fashion at -260 also projects to hold value and is a perfectly fine option if you are interested in laying that kind of juice.
Run Line (Spread)
As noted, my favorite play from this game is backing the Phillies to cover the run line at -122.
Over/Under
A total of 8.5 looks fair in this matchup.
Rockies vs Phillies Parlay
- Sanchez Under 1.5 Earned Runs
- Sanchez Under 4.5 Hits Allowed
- Phillies F5 Innings -0.5
Parlay odds: +350
At +350, there looks to be value in backing Sanchez to have an entirely dominant day with this three-leg parlay. As he takes on a Rockies lineup that was among the worst in the league against left-handed pitching last season, he could have a highly effective day, but likely won’t be stretched too far in this matchup, which works in favor of these two props.
The Phillies lineup will likely offer Sanchez some early run support, which would mean covering the F5 run-line if Sanchez is to dominate.
Rockies vs Phillies Betting Trends
Rockies vs Phillies starts at 3:05 p.m. EDT on Monday, live from Citizens Bank Park. The game will be broadcast on NBCS-PH+.
Rockies vs Phillies Weather
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