Pirates (Duke) at Braves (Kawakami) UNDER 8 1/2
Analysis: Zack Duke doesn't get much respect, but the Pittsburgh lefty has been one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball this season.
Yes, I know that's hard to believe. But the numbers don't lie. Duke is 6-4 pitching for a terrible team with a 2.62 ERA. In 79 innings, he's allowed 71 hits and just 18 walks and four homers. The under has cashed in six of his last seven starts.
In his last start, Duke out-dueled the great Johan Santana. Duke is 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA in his last five starts.
The Braves scored eight runs on Sunday. Prior to that, though, they had gone 22 consecutive scoreless innings. The Braves achieved their Sunday outburst mainly against Manny Parra, who has allowed 26 earned runs in his last 19 2/3 innings.
Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in his last six starts. He has a 1.50 ERA in his last two home starts against the Cubs and Blue Jays, striking out nine and walking only one in 15 innings.
Kawakami shouldn't have problems facing the weak-hitting Pirates.
Analysis: Zack Duke doesn't get much respect, but the Pittsburgh lefty has been one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball this season.
Yes, I know that's hard to believe. But the numbers don't lie. Duke is 6-4 pitching for a terrible team with a 2.62 ERA. In 79 innings, he's allowed 71 hits and just 18 walks and four homers. The under has cashed in six of his last seven starts.
In his last start, Duke out-dueled the great Johan Santana. Duke is 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA in his last five starts.
The Braves scored eight runs on Sunday. Prior to that, though, they had gone 22 consecutive scoreless innings. The Braves achieved their Sunday outburst mainly against Manny Parra, who has allowed 26 earned runs in his last 19 2/3 innings.
Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in his last six starts. He has a 1.50 ERA in his last two home starts against the Cubs and Blue Jays, striking out nine and walking only one in 15 innings.
Kawakami shouldn't have problems facing the weak-hitting Pirates.
