We stepped back on the winning side on Wednesday, hitting two of our three bets, to help recover some of our losses from Tuesday. We’re still down $8.46v(In imaginary dollars) on the week but feeling a bit better about what we’re learning and where we’re going.
Thursday is going to bring us a bang-load of early games so we’re going to jump on that with Arizona (54-42) at Atlanta (61-33). The Diamondbacks are going with Zac Gallen (11-4, 3.14 ERA) on the mound and the Braves are throwing Spencer Strider (11-3, 3.66 ERA).
Pitchers
Of the four games we’ve played this week, this is definitely the most intriguing pitcher’s match up. Both pitchers have eleven wins on the season and both are boasting ERA’s below 4.00. Both have also allowed fewer earned runs, over their last five games, than their season averages.
Gallen is 3-2 over his last five outings and has gone seven innings in three of those games. He’s allowing an average of 2.6 earned runs per game during that span and has struck out 30 batters. Strider is coming off a performance where he was rung up for five earned runs, but even with that he’s only allowing 1.8 earned runs per game, over the last five, with 49 strikeouts. This is going to be a fun pitcher’s duel!
The Lineups
Christian Walker is pacing the Diamondbacks with 20 home runs and 60 RBI, and Corbin Carroll has a team-best .283 batting average. Arizona has scored 27 runs over the last five games but 16 of those came on Wednesday in the opener of this series.
The Braves scored 13 runs in the series opener on Wednesday and have a total of 32 runs scored over the last five games. Matt Olson has blasted 30 home runs, and knocked in 77 RBI, while Ronald Acuna Jr. has a .333 batting average.
The Streaks
Arizona’s win on Wednesday snapped a 4-game losing streak and the Braves are currently riding a 3-game losing streak.
The Odds
Braves -1.5
Braves -192 on the Money Line
O/U 8.5
At -192 the money line really isn’t worth betting here. I still like the Braves to win it though, if you want to pay that much juice and make the bet. I have been terrible on the over/under picks, missed it again on Wednesday, so that’s going to leave me the point spread pick as my best bet for this game. I’ll take the Diamondbacks +1.5 here in a game that should feature some great pitching moments.
For the record, I would take the over on this one as well.
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