Philadelphia vs L.A. MLB Betting Preview
The Braves are riding a season-best 7-game winning streak and they have a hot pitcher on the mound, as they open a series facing the NL West leading Giants.
Venue/ Stadium: Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia
Time/Date: 7:10 PM EST Tuesday, July 17, 2012
MLB Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: Giants +135 / Braves -155
Over/Under: 9 runs
PITCHING MATCHUP: San Francisco LH Barry Zito (7-6, 4.01 ERA) vs. Atlanta RH Jair Jurrjens (3-2, 4.97)
San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves Preview
San Francisco has a 2 game lead over the Dodgers in the NL West and the Braves only trail the Nationals by 2.5 games in the NL East. MLB odds have the Braves as the home favorite with a total of 9 runs.
In their last games the Braves beat the New York Mets 6-1 and the Giants beat the Houston Astros 3-2.
This season the Braves have an O/U record of 43-40 with a run-line W/L record of 42-46 and the Giants have an O/U record of 41-45 and a run-line W/L record of 42-47.
The Braves are 23-22 at home and the Giants are 20-24 on the road.
The Braves have won 6 of their last 7 games facing the Giants.
Barry Zito (7-6, 4.01 ERA) gets the nod for the Giants tonight and in his last outing he gave up 4 earned runs in 5 innings, but still got the win. Jair Jurrjens (3-2, 4.97 ERA) goes for the Braves and he gave up 3 earned runs in 7 innings in a win in his last start. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Jurrjens has been stellar since being demoted to AAA after a rough start and in his last 4 starts since being recalled to the Show he is 3-0 with an ERA of 2.13. He is 2-3 with a 3.58 ERA in 5 career starts versus the Giants.
Zito is 2-4 with a 6.12 ERA over his last 6 starts and ranks 3rd in the NL giving up 5.27 walks per game since May. He is 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last 4 starts against the Braves and all of those starts were in Atlanta.
The Braves have been getting great pitching and their offense has been solid in their 7-game winning streak. Freddie Freeman went deep in the Braves last game and he is swinging a red-hot bat hitting .462 in the Braves’ streak.
Zito may have to pitch well tonight not only because the Braves are on fire, but San Francisco only ranks 25th in the Majors in runs scored.
In some betting trends for this NL match up the Giants are 1-6 in their last 7 road games, 5-13 in Zito’s last 18 starts as a road underdog, and they have an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 games.
The Braves are 4-0 in their last 4 home games, 5-2 in Jurrjens’ last 7 starts, and they have an Over record of 6-1-1 in their last 8 home games against teams with a winning record.
Jason’s Pick: Have to go with the hot Braves, as I think Zito will get roughed up tonight.
