MLB Betting – Braves vs Mets Preview & Pick
The Atlanta Braves are essentially performing to expectations this season but they can’t afford to slip with the National League West producing stiff Wildcard competition for them.
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Bet On Baseball – Braves vs. Mets Preview & Pick
Date: Saturday, August 6, 2011
Venue: Citi Field, Queens, NY
Broadcast: SPSO, SNY
Atlanta Braves at New York Mets Betting Lines from BetUS.com
Money Line: Braves -130
Over/Under: 7.5
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Atlanta Braves (64-48 through August 4)
Tommy Hanson (11-6, 3.20)
They’re reached that ho-hum stretch in the dog days of August, seemingly alternating wins and losses without gaining or losing ground as they push for the playoffs.
The biggest story of the second half for Atlanta so far is, of course, Dan Uggla. The massive first-half bust has exploded for a 25-game hitting streak, during which he’s batting .354 with 11 homers and 23 RBI.
Whether or not Uggla contributes against the Mets on Saturday may not matter to Braves ace Tommy Hanson. The big fella won’t need much run support according to his track record, which includes a 2.27 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 35.2 career innings against the Mets.
New York Mets (55-55 through August 4)
Jonathon Niese (10-8, 3.94)
The Mets had been a bit more competitive than most of us expected for most of this season but the wheels are falling off now. They’d lost four straight games and counting entering Friday’s series opener with Atlanta. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
New York’s pitching has been decent of late. Jonathon Niese, who will pitch against Atlanta Saturday, has lost once in his last six starts. But where have the Mets’ bats gone? I guess the answer in part is “San Francisco,” as they traded Carlos Beltran there last week. Their remaining stars are also slipping.
Jose Reyes is batting .261 since the All-Star break. David Wright batted .392 in July but is hitless in his first two August games.
MLB Trends
Over is 5-2-1 in ATL last 8 Sat. games.
Under is 7-3-1 in ATL last 11 overall.
Under is 7-3-1 in ATL last 11 on grass.
NYM are 8-1 in Nieses last 9 Sat. starts.
Over is 13-5 in Nieses last 18 home starts.
Over is 20-8-1 in Nieses last 29 starts overall.
Under is 20-8-1 in the last 29 meetings.
Under is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings in New York.
MLB Free pick:
I have too much confidence in Hanson, not to mention Uggla’s hot streak, to bet against the Braves right now. The Beltran deal also signalled the beginning of the end for the Mets’ season. They’ve given up, they’re playing out the string, and they’re looking ahead to a possible roster overhaul. I doubt they have the killer instinct left to handle a beast on the mound like Hanson.
Braves vs Mets prediction: Braves 5, Mets 2
