The Atlanta Braves take on the St Louis Cardinals tonight as Russ Ortiz looks to bounce back from his first loss in nine starts.
The Braves own the best record in baseball at 75-39 (.658) including a 35-22 road mark. They go for their third straight win tonight having outscored the Brewers 17-3 in their last two games. Atlanta have been posting some big numbers on the road recently...in fact through their last 14 road games they are averaging more than 8 runs. The Braves have dominated against the AL Central this season posting a 21-8 record.
Ortiz (15-5, 3.52 ERA) had won eight straight starts before losing to the Dodgers in his last outing. He allowed just one earned run in five innings but failed to get any run support and was tagged with the loss. The 29 year-old right-hander leads the NL in wins (15) and ranks second in winning percentage (.750) and seventh in batting average against (.223).
The Cardinals beat the Mets 3-0 last night to avoid being swept at home. Overall this season they are 59-55 (.518) to be two games back from the AL Central leading Astros. Albert Pujols is hitting a major-league leading .372 on the back of a 21-game hitting streak.
Veteran left-hander Jeff Fassero (1-5, 5.74 ERA) tonight gets just his fourth start this season for the Cardinals. He is 0-1 so far as a starter and also has 45 relief appearances. His WHIP of 1.54 and BAA of .286 compares less than favorably with Ortiz and he will also be concerned by the Braves 20-8 record this season against left-handed starters.
Atlanta are 11-4 (+6.3 units) against St Louis the last three seasons and with Ortiz on the mound tonight we're forecasting another Braves victory.
Recommended Play: Braves -126
Good luck
Mike
The Braves own the best record in baseball at 75-39 (.658) including a 35-22 road mark. They go for their third straight win tonight having outscored the Brewers 17-3 in their last two games. Atlanta have been posting some big numbers on the road recently...in fact through their last 14 road games they are averaging more than 8 runs. The Braves have dominated against the AL Central this season posting a 21-8 record.
Ortiz (15-5, 3.52 ERA) had won eight straight starts before losing to the Dodgers in his last outing. He allowed just one earned run in five innings but failed to get any run support and was tagged with the loss. The 29 year-old right-hander leads the NL in wins (15) and ranks second in winning percentage (.750) and seventh in batting average against (.223).
The Cardinals beat the Mets 3-0 last night to avoid being swept at home. Overall this season they are 59-55 (.518) to be two games back from the AL Central leading Astros. Albert Pujols is hitting a major-league leading .372 on the back of a 21-game hitting streak.
Veteran left-hander Jeff Fassero (1-5, 5.74 ERA) tonight gets just his fourth start this season for the Cardinals. He is 0-1 so far as a starter and also has 45 relief appearances. His WHIP of 1.54 and BAA of .286 compares less than favorably with Ortiz and he will also be concerned by the Braves 20-8 record this season against left-handed starters.
Atlanta are 11-4 (+6.3 units) against St Louis the last three seasons and with Ortiz on the mound tonight we're forecasting another Braves victory.
Recommended Play: Braves -126
Good luck
Mike
