We did it! We finally snapped the losing streak and produced a winner on Wednesday night by going 2-1 on our picks with the Rangers and the Mets. Granted, we got a little lucky because the Mets announced a pitching change after we posted, but that just makes me even more happy because luck was finally back on our side. Now, were going back to a familiar team with Atlanta (87-45) at the L.A. Dodgers (82-49) in a preview of what may be the National League Championship Series. We’re now up to 4-5 with our picks on the week.
The Pitchers
I feel like just about every time we feature Atlanta Spencer Strider (15-4, 3.46 ERA) is on the mound. He’s won three in a row and four of his last five. During that stretch he has produced 37 total strikeouts in that span, and allowed an average of just 1.6 earned runs per game.
The Dodgers are throwing Lance Lynn (10-9, 5.56 ERA) who is pretty much matching Strider over the last five outings. Lynn has four wins in his last five starts, with an average of 1.4 earned runs per game, and he’s fanned a total of 26 batters over that span.
The Lineups
Matt Olson has blasted 43 home runs, and knocked in 112 RBI for the Braves, while Ronald Acuna Jr. has a .334 batting average. Atlanta has scored 31 total runs over the last five games.
The Dodgers are led by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Betts has 36 home runs on the season, and 94 RBI, while Freeman has a team best .337 batting average. The Dodgers have scored 35 runs over the last five games.
The Streaks
Atlanta opens this series having won two in a for and four of its last five games. The Dodgers have won three in a row and four of their last five games.
The Odds
Dodgers -1.5
Dodgers -135 on the moneyline
O/U 8.5
Both pitchers have been spectacular over their last five outings but the better overall body of work belongs to Strider. Vegas doesn’t even thing the Dodgers are going to cover at -1.5, that’s why we’re getting -148 odds on Atlanta at +1.5. I like the Braves to win this one in a pitching duel, which means we should probably take the under as well.
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