HOME TEAM IN CAPS
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise.
Pittsburgh +1.06 over WASHINGTON
The pathetic Nationals are reeling so badly right now that any take-back against them has to be considered the prudent move. They just can’t win and with each loss it gets more difficult to pick up a W. Tonight they’ll rely on a rookie pitcher again with the worst bullpen in history backing him up. Craig Stammen had a decent ERA at Triple-A Syracuse but ERA does not tell the whole story. He finished the season last year 1-4 with a 7.33 ERA in nine appearances. Eight of those nine appearances were starts with Triple-A Columbus of the International League and it’s also worth noting that he started the year at Class-A. This season at Syracuse he struck out just 14 batters in 40 innings and now he’s being asked to step into a pressure-filled role at the highest level there is. If he can’t whiff minor-leaguers, major-leaguers should smack him around. The Nats are making a lot of premature moves and this can’t turn out good for them. This is a team in big trouble and with the Pirates winning six straight and feeling great they surely have an edge here. Play: Pittsburgh +1.06 (Risking 2 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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ATLANTA –1½ +1.77 over Colorado
Unlike the Nats, the Braves bring pitching prospects along slowly and only promote them when they’re absolutely ready to make the leap from the minors to the majors. Enter Kris Medlan, a guy that’s been tearing it up in the minors. Pitching this year for the Gwinnett Braves of the Triple-A International League he’s gone 5-0 with a 1.19 ERA. In 37 innings he’s allowed just 20 hits, none of them homeruns, while striking out 44. In three May starts his ERA was 0.45. The kid is ready and the Braves hitters will be a little juiced up in support of Medlan. Aaron Cook has made eight starts and while he’s 2-1, the team is just 2-6 when he starts. Cook has made four road starts and has been completely crushed in all but one of them. That one quality start was in San Diego and that park makes everyone look good. The Braves have won nine of its last 13 games, they’ve scored 20 runs in the last two days against the Rockies and they should have an easy time of it again here. Play: Atlanta –1½ +1.77 (Risking 2 units).
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise.
Pittsburgh +1.06 over WASHINGTON
The pathetic Nationals are reeling so badly right now that any take-back against them has to be considered the prudent move. They just can’t win and with each loss it gets more difficult to pick up a W. Tonight they’ll rely on a rookie pitcher again with the worst bullpen in history backing him up. Craig Stammen had a decent ERA at Triple-A Syracuse but ERA does not tell the whole story. He finished the season last year 1-4 with a 7.33 ERA in nine appearances. Eight of those nine appearances were starts with Triple-A Columbus of the International League and it’s also worth noting that he started the year at Class-A. This season at Syracuse he struck out just 14 batters in 40 innings and now he’s being asked to step into a pressure-filled role at the highest level there is. If he can’t whiff minor-leaguers, major-leaguers should smack him around. The Nats are making a lot of premature moves and this can’t turn out good for them. This is a team in big trouble and with the Pirates winning six straight and feeling great they surely have an edge here. Play: Pittsburgh +1.06 (Risking 2 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>ATLANTA –1½ +1.77 over Colorado
Unlike the Nats, the Braves bring pitching prospects along slowly and only promote them when they’re absolutely ready to make the leap from the minors to the majors. Enter Kris Medlan, a guy that’s been tearing it up in the minors. Pitching this year for the Gwinnett Braves of the Triple-A International League he’s gone 5-0 with a 1.19 ERA. In 37 innings he’s allowed just 20 hits, none of them homeruns, while striking out 44. In three May starts his ERA was 0.45. The kid is ready and the Braves hitters will be a little juiced up in support of Medlan. Aaron Cook has made eight starts and while he’s 2-1, the team is just 2-6 when he starts. Cook has made four road starts and has been completely crushed in all but one of them. That one quality start was in San Diego and that park makes everyone look good. The Braves have won nine of its last 13 games, they’ve scored 20 runs in the last two days against the Rockies and they should have an easy time of it again here. Play: Atlanta –1½ +1.77 (Risking 2 units).
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