MLB Lines – Reds vs Braves
The Cincinnati Reds will travel south to Atlanta to start a three-game set against the Braves on Friday night.
CIN: Homer Bailey (R) (1-1, 5.75 ERA) v ATL: Ervin Santana (R) (2-0, .86 ERA)
Date/Time: 7:35 pm ET Friday, April 25, 2014
Venue: Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia
Broadcast: LOCAL
Line: Nationals -176
Total: 7.5
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Cincinnati (11-11) is coming off a 2-1 win over the Pirates on Thursday. Ryan Ludwick delivered the go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning as the visiting Reds took three of four on the road from Pittsburgh.
On the season the Reds are hitting .255, scoring an average of 4.09 runs per game. They are led by catcher Devin Mesoraco, who had hit safely in every game he has played this season, but went 0-for-4 to end his career-best 11-game hitting streak against the Pirates yesterday.
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Mesoraco still leads the Reds with a .477 average, with 3 home runs and 13 RBIs.
The Braves (14-7) meanwhile, are coming off a 3-1 win over the Marlins in the rubber match of a three-game series on Wednesday.
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First baseman Freddie Freeman went 0-for-3, striking out twice in Wednesday’s contest, but still leads the Braves lineup, batting .338, with a team-leading 5 home runs and 14 RBIs.
In an effort to halt the Braves batters who hit a collective .243, the Reds will hand the ball to right-hander Homer Bailey in game one.
The 27-year-old is 1-1 on the season with a 5.75 ERA in four starts. Following three poor outings in which he gave up 13 runs, Bailey rebounded nicely in his last start on April 20 at Chicago, grabbing his first win of the season.
The Reds rolled the Cubs 8-2 in that one, as Bailey tossed six scoreless six-hit innings, striking out eight Chicago batters. He is 2-1 with an ERA of 3.94 against the Braves during his eight year career.
Atlanta will counter with veteran righty Ervin Santana who is 2-0 on the season, with an incredible .86 ERA in three starts over 21 innings of baseball.
The 31-year-old pitched seven scoreless innings in his last outing at the New York Mets on April 19, allowing just one earned run and striking out seven in a 7-5 win.
This is the first time that he will face the Reds in his 10-year career.
Betting Trends:
- CIN are 3-7 in their last 10 Fri. games.
- CIN are 6-2 in Baileys last 8 road starts.
- Under is 9-3 in ATL last 12 Fri. games.
- ATL are 9-3 in their last 12 overall.
- ATL are 9-3 in their last 12 games on grass.
- Over is 5-1-2 in the last 8 meetings.
Notes:
1. The Braves’ rotation has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all but one game.
2. The Reds (11-11), who have yet to break .500 on the season, are averaging 5.2 runs since Votto was bumped up in the lineup (2.8 over the first 10 games).
3. Atlanta OF B.J. Upton is two hits away from 1,000 for his career and two stolen bases from 250.
Matt’s Free Prediction: UNDER –
Both teams can score a decent number of runs, but with both of Friday’s starters turning in some stingy performances of late, I expect this one to stay under the projected total.
