YTD: (12-13) (+0.5 Units)
Still Learning and Making Strides
Took about 3 hours and capped 6 games sides and totals and these are 3 that stood out to me as possible winners
3 Units - Houston Astros -134
2 Units - Astros/Pirates UN 4.5 1st 5 Innings -128
1 Unit - NY Mets -138
Astros -134
Astros bat a long list of right handed batters and will face a right handed pitcher. On the surface this seems like a bad matchup for Houston, and it should be. However, Houston is actually hitting righthanded pitchers much better so far this season as a team, they just need a few innings to do so. They are the better team here and start Pettite on the bump. Teams love coming out to the yard when their top of the rotation guys are going and they should be excited to come out with Pettite on the mound. The lefthanders curveball should induce plenty of groundballs from a Pittsburgh offense that is struggling. Astros have started off sluggish on the road so far this year, but I can't see them losing two in a row to the Pirates in this situation. Pittsburgh should not be able to put much together to beat with the Astros in the later innings. I think Pettite cruises through 6 or 7, and the Astros experience in close games this year pays off in the end.
Astros/Pirates UN 4.5 1st 5 Innings -128
Houston was shutout last night on 5 hits, and they should struggle out of the gates again tonight. They have actually struggled out of the gates most of the season and have managed to score runs in the later innings. Tonight should be no different. They are coming off of a rough night at the plate and that should carry over in the first few innings tonight as they havn't been a very good offensive club to begin with. The Pirates struggle to score runs themselves, and it gets no easier against Andy Pettite. Although being a lefty, Pettite has been effective against righties this year. Pettite's starts have been characterized by scoreless innings through 5 only to yield a 3 or 4 run inning late in the game. I think the same result will come out of this Pittsburgh lineup. I played the 5 inning total because Houston's pen has been struggling and if the Houston bats come alive, they are more likely to come alive in the later innings. Backdoor Over is possible for this game, but I think the first 5 innings is a solid play.
NY Mets -138
Pedro vs. Smoltz. A good pitching duel should be in the works and this game is going to be which pitcher gives up that 1 big run inning. I'll take my chances on the Mets in this game. The Mets have one of the top 10 offenses in the game right now, while the Braves have a bottom 10 offense. The Mets are playing at home, while Atlanta is showing no signs of improvement at the plate. I don't know whether or not Chipper Jones will play, but it shouldn't matter.
Pitching on 5 days rest throughout the course of a season is a grind. Smoltz has been a tough luck loser in some of his starts recently, and I think he's due for a rusty appearance of returning to the rotation. I think the big bats of the Mets such as Beltran and Floyd will have the advantage hitting left handed against the R Smoltz. While the Braves big bats such as Giles, A. Jones, Jordan, and Mondesi will be at a disadvantage hitting right handed on Pedro's arsenal. In the possible pitching duels, it's the little things that become big things. Aside from that Pedro should have a bit more stamina to go deeper into this game while Smoltzy should have to turn it over to his pen a bit sooner. More likely of a chance that the Mets give Pedro some run support, then the Braves giving Smoltz run support.
Still Learning and Making Strides
Took about 3 hours and capped 6 games sides and totals and these are 3 that stood out to me as possible winners
3 Units - Houston Astros -134
2 Units - Astros/Pirates UN 4.5 1st 5 Innings -128
1 Unit - NY Mets -138
Astros -134
Astros bat a long list of right handed batters and will face a right handed pitcher. On the surface this seems like a bad matchup for Houston, and it should be. However, Houston is actually hitting righthanded pitchers much better so far this season as a team, they just need a few innings to do so. They are the better team here and start Pettite on the bump. Teams love coming out to the yard when their top of the rotation guys are going and they should be excited to come out with Pettite on the mound. The lefthanders curveball should induce plenty of groundballs from a Pittsburgh offense that is struggling. Astros have started off sluggish on the road so far this year, but I can't see them losing two in a row to the Pirates in this situation. Pittsburgh should not be able to put much together to beat with the Astros in the later innings. I think Pettite cruises through 6 or 7, and the Astros experience in close games this year pays off in the end.
Astros/Pirates UN 4.5 1st 5 Innings -128
Houston was shutout last night on 5 hits, and they should struggle out of the gates again tonight. They have actually struggled out of the gates most of the season and have managed to score runs in the later innings. Tonight should be no different. They are coming off of a rough night at the plate and that should carry over in the first few innings tonight as they havn't been a very good offensive club to begin with. The Pirates struggle to score runs themselves, and it gets no easier against Andy Pettite. Although being a lefty, Pettite has been effective against righties this year. Pettite's starts have been characterized by scoreless innings through 5 only to yield a 3 or 4 run inning late in the game. I think the same result will come out of this Pittsburgh lineup. I played the 5 inning total because Houston's pen has been struggling and if the Houston bats come alive, they are more likely to come alive in the later innings. Backdoor Over is possible for this game, but I think the first 5 innings is a solid play.
NY Mets -138
Pedro vs. Smoltz. A good pitching duel should be in the works and this game is going to be which pitcher gives up that 1 big run inning. I'll take my chances on the Mets in this game. The Mets have one of the top 10 offenses in the game right now, while the Braves have a bottom 10 offense. The Mets are playing at home, while Atlanta is showing no signs of improvement at the plate. I don't know whether or not Chipper Jones will play, but it shouldn't matter.
Pitching on 5 days rest throughout the course of a season is a grind. Smoltz has been a tough luck loser in some of his starts recently, and I think he's due for a rusty appearance of returning to the rotation. I think the big bats of the Mets such as Beltran and Floyd will have the advantage hitting left handed against the R Smoltz. While the Braves big bats such as Giles, A. Jones, Jordan, and Mondesi will be at a disadvantage hitting right handed on Pedro's arsenal. In the possible pitching duels, it's the little things that become big things. Aside from that Pedro should have a bit more stamina to go deeper into this game while Smoltzy should have to turn it over to his pen a bit sooner. More likely of a chance that the Mets give Pedro some run support, then the Braves giving Smoltz run support.
Last edited:
