Sunday MLB Baseball Picks: Braves vs Reds
Things are really rounding into form for the Atlanta Braves as they continue their National-League playoff push.
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Sunday Night Baseball Betting – Braves vs Reds Preview & Pick
Date: Sunday, July 24, 2011
Venue: Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH
Broadcast: ESPN
Atlanta Braves at Cincinnati Reds Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com
Money Line: Braves -125
Over/Under: 9
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Atlanta Braves (58-41 through July 21)
Brandon Beachy (3-2, 3.75)
They’re within striking distance of the Phillies in the East. Their pitching has carried them all season but their bats are finally warming up; they’ve scored seven or more runs in each of their last four victories. Rumors of a Carlos Beltran acquisition are music to Braves fans’ ears as well.
With Brandon Beachy taking the hill Sunday night, Atlanta will hope its bats can stay hot, as the youngster is starting to slip. The key to Beachy’s rookie season has been striking out hitters and avoiding walks, In his last start, he did everything wrong. In 4.2 innings against the Rockies, he allowed six earned runs on nine hits, walked five batters and struck out only three guys. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Beachy hadn’t walked a batter in either of his two prior starts, so he probably deserves a mulligan, but it’s worth noting that he’s allowed at least one homer in six straight outings.
Cincinnati Reds (48-50 through July 21)
Dontrelle Willis (0-1, 3.37)
With the Brewers, Cardinals and the upstart Pittsburgh Pirates outplaying them, the Cincinnati Reds are running out of chances to make a move in the NL Central. They blew a golden opportunity against Pittsburgh this week by dropping two of three games.
The Reds’ pitching finally came to life during that three –game set, allowing four runs in total, but their usually reliable bats went silent. Cincy scored just three runs in three games. Go figure.
The Reds will turn to a wild card – Dontrelle Willis – on Sunday night. The former All-Star has been somewhat serviceable over his first two starts with the team, allowing four runs over two short starts.
MLB Trends:
Over is 7-1-1 in ATL last 9 overall.
Over is 7-1-1 in ATL last 9 on grass.
ATL are 20-8 in their last 28 overall.
Free MLB pick:
Cincinnati’s bats are too powerful to stay down for long and a return to hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark should help. It also spells bad news for the homer-prone Beachy. Considering that Chipper Jones is the only Brave starter with a particularly strong history against Willis and he’s on the DL, I think the D-Train can handle Atlanta. Pick Cincy.
Sunday Night Baseball prediction: Reds 6, Braves 3
