The San Diego Padres haven't had a National League Rookie of the Year winner since catcher Benito Santiago in 1987, but they have the current favorite in southpaw pitcher MacKenzie Gore at +230. However, his lead has shrunk of late over Cardinals infielder Nolan Gorman (+300) and might be gone for good on Friday if Gore struggles for a second straight start against the Colorado Rockies. San Diego is a -160 road favorite at Caesars Sportsbook.
Gore entered last Saturday's game vs. Colorado having allowed just one earned run over his previous four outings spanning 22 innings, three of them starts and one in relief. The Rockies got to him, though, for six runs in 2.1 innings as Gore was a bit wild with a season-high four walks and throwing just 38 of 63 pitches for strikes. Not like he can blame that start on pitching in the thin air of Denver, either, as it was at Petco Park. The only shorter outing by a Padres pitcher this season was Yu Darvish's 1 2/3 innings on April 12 at San Francisco.
Gore, the third overall pick in the 2017 draft who opened the year at +2500 for NL ROY, did keep one impressive streak alive as he didn't allow a homer and has surrendered just one all season in 50.1 innings (by Atlanta's Ozzie Albies in Gore's MLB debut on April 15). He is one of just three pitchers in the majors this season to toss at least 50.0 innings and allow one homer or fewer and has an excellent 43.4 percent ground ball rate. Left-handers are batting just .194 off him.
Petco Park is considered pitcher-friendly but Gore is 1-2 with a 4.01 ERA in 24.2 home innings and 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA in 25.2 road innings. This will be his first look at Coors Field.
Gorman, the No. 19 overall pick in the 2018 draft, was called up in mid-May and is batting .266 with three homers and 12 RBIs. He hasn't gone yard since June 3 and is hitting just .188 this month with a .521 OPS, so maybe Gore will keep his lead unless he gets just obliterated.
Seems to be a two-man race NL Rookie of the Year for now as there's a drop-off after Gorman to Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (+900), who had been favored for a while but hasn't played since May 26 due to a finger injury. Suzuki was my spring pick to win the award.
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