Atlanta Braves (0-1) vs New York Mets (1-0)
If moving in the fences was supposed to spark offense at Citi Field the visiting Atlanta Braves certainly didn’t get the memo.
Saturday April 7
Citi Field – Queens, NY
1:10PM
Probable Starters:
Moneyline: New York Mets -110, Atlanta -110
O/U: 7
Pitchers: Jair Jurrjens (R) vs. R.A. Dickey (R)
Atlanta
In the opener they were shut out by Johan Santana, managing just 4 hits. This lineup is not full of mashers but has a nice combination of gap hitters and some speed. Perhaps in game two they can get untracked, especially leadoff speedster Michael Bourn who was unable to reach base and surprisingly left 4 men on.
Braves starters Jair Jurrjens will be looking to pick up where he left off last year. He was very good but has his season cut short by injuries, for the second year in a row.
He has been very good in his career against New York with an 8-4 record and an ERA under 3.
I like the Braves to finally get their bats going although facing Dickey can be awkward. I just don’t see this team getting off to an 0-2 start against New York. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
New York
The New York Mets could not have been more pleased with their opener. They got the win and they learned that Johan Santana might just have a little left in the tank.
Sure it would have been better to score more than just one run but this year they are going to have to take what they can get. The Mets don’t mind playing the Braves splitting with them last year even as they nosedived to the bottom of the division.
R.A. Dickey is one of the most confounding pitchers in the league.
He played for three teams before joining the Mets a couple of seasons ago and didn’t show much of anything. Now as a knuckleballer in New York he is having success ERA’s under 3.30 the last two years. He has struggled against the Braves (1-4) but pitches much better at home.
Knucklers are so unpredictable it is hard to back this guy.
O/U Pick: Under
Score Prediction: Atlanta 4 – New York 1
