Bob Valentino
Wednesday Bonus Play goes on the afternoon card as I play the Braves and Ian Anderson on the Run Line in their game against the Marlins and Pablo Lopez.
Miami raced to a 4-1 lead yesterday against Atlanta, but then starter Sandy Alcantara got a little cute and decided to hit Ronald Acuna and the dynamics changed as the Braves scored 8 straight runs to take the series opener, 9-5.
The Atlanta bats which had scored just 2 runs in 20 innings in their Wild Card series opener against Cincinnati have seemed to come to life as they plated 4 runs in the 8th inning of that second game versus the Reds and they have been off to the races ever since.
Yesterday's win made it 7-4 in the season series for Atlanta over Miami and marked the 5th time over the last 6 games they have dumped their division-rivals.
Ian Anderson has been rock-solid since getting his big league call up and stands at 4-1 for the season. He did not fare so well against Miami this season as he allowed 5 runs in almost 9 innings of work, but only 1 of those runs was earned!
As for Lopez, he did not pitch in the Wild Card series against the Cubs and brings a 2-1 mark against the Braves this season into this start, but do note his 6.39 ERA versus Atlanta suggests the Bravos bats could once again make solid contact today.
Go with Atlanta on the Run Line.
4* ATLANTA -1 1/2 RUNS