Rec: 6-2
I should just post the play and not bother with any reasoning because we know there is little reasoning other than past interleague performance that's reliable in picking a side the next two weeks. BUT, the engineer in me just damn refuses to ignore stats so here's a feeble attempt at explaining my choice above. To begin with, we have the Nats, who have been better than average among the NL in IL play, but wouldn't qualify as mediocre among AL teams. Then there are the Indians who have just been plain awful by any league's standards the past several years. Check to Nats. Nats are busting righties right now, Indians are definitely not, batting almost 90 points less than the Nats. Check to Nats. Atilano is pitching well on the road, 4-0 with a respectable road ERA of 3.18. Westbrook is not pitching well at home with an unrespectable home ERA of 5.56 and zero wins. He's only credited for one loss at home, but make no mistake, he led the troops down the path of demise in his other home starts. Check to Nats. And finally, although it only be a small tidbit to consider, if to be considered at all, both pitchers faced the resurgent Big Red Machine. While the outcome was the same in both instances (loss), Atilano did a fine job in holding the Reds to 1 run in 7 IP, nearly costing me a king's ransom. Westbrook, on the other hand, got the hook after 5 giving up 4 ER's. Yeah, I know, digging deep here, but will be the first to admit that I just about grab at any straws when capping an interleague game. GLTA the next two weeks, we may need it.
Nats +114 Betonline
~T~
I should just post the play and not bother with any reasoning because we know there is little reasoning other than past interleague performance that's reliable in picking a side the next two weeks. BUT, the engineer in me just damn refuses to ignore stats so here's a feeble attempt at explaining my choice above. To begin with, we have the Nats, who have been better than average among the NL in IL play, but wouldn't qualify as mediocre among AL teams. Then there are the Indians who have just been plain awful by any league's standards the past several years. Check to Nats. Nats are busting righties right now, Indians are definitely not, batting almost 90 points less than the Nats. Check to Nats. Atilano is pitching well on the road, 4-0 with a respectable road ERA of 3.18. Westbrook is not pitching well at home with an unrespectable home ERA of 5.56 and zero wins. He's only credited for one loss at home, but make no mistake, he led the troops down the path of demise in his other home starts. Check to Nats. And finally, although it only be a small tidbit to consider, if to be considered at all, both pitchers faced the resurgent Big Red Machine. While the outcome was the same in both instances (loss), Atilano did a fine job in holding the Reds to 1 run in 7 IP, nearly costing me a king's ransom. Westbrook, on the other hand, got the hook after 5 giving up 4 ER's. Yeah, I know, digging deep here, but will be the first to admit that I just about grab at any straws when capping an interleague game. GLTA the next two weeks, we may need it.
Nats +114 Betonline
~T~
