Friday MLB Baseball Picks: Phillies vs Braves
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MLB Betting – Phillies vs Braves Preview & Pick
Date: Friday, April 8, 2011
Venue: Turner Field, Atlanta, GA
Broadcast: WB17, PTV
Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves Betting Lines from Betus.com
Money Line: Braves -105
Over/Under: 7
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Philadelphia Phillies (4-1 through April 6)
Cliff Lee, (1-0, 3.86)
In his first start since returning to the Phillies, Cliff Lee picked up where he left off in the 2010 playoffs with Texas. He struck out 11 hapless Houston Astros and walked none over seven innings of three-run ball en route to the win.
Interestingly enough, Lee hasn’t fared great against the Atlanta Braves in his career, compiling a 5.06 ERA and serving up four homers over 16 innings. Free-swinging shortstop Alex Gonzalez has done the most damage against him, going 4 for 12 with a homer.
Even with Jayson Werth gone and Chase Utley still on the DL, offense hasn’t been too much of a problem for the Phillies early on. Usually a slow starter, Ryan Howard has taken the team on his shoulders. The big first baseman is batting .524 with two homers and eight RBI through five games. 
Atlanta Braves
Tim Hudson (1-0, 1.29)
The Atlanta Braves plan on pushing the Phillies for the NL East crown all-season long and their solid pitching should be a big reason for that. Tim Hudson was excellent last year, going 17-9 with a 2.83 ERA, and he continued that stellar play with seven innings of one-run ball against Washington to start his season.
Hudson has a reasonable 3.79 ERA in his career against the Phillies but his 15 homers allowed against them in 118.2 innings stick out a bit. Can you guess which hitter keeps him up at night? Yep, it’s Howard, who bats .341 with six homers and 12 RBI over 41 at-bats against him.
MLB Trends:
PHI are 23-7 in their last 30 road games.
PHI are 21-7 in their last 28 Fri. games.
PHI are 37-14 in their last 51 overall.
Under is 9-2 in ATL last 11 home games.
ATL are 51-23 in their last 74 home games.
ATL are 8-3 in Hudsons last 11 home starts.
The pick:
Even though Lee’s track record against the Braves isn’t too hot and Tim Hudson was lights-out in his season debut, the Howard factor could play a major role on Friday. He absolutely owns Hudson and he’s never been this hot in April before. So I expect Howard to lead the Phillies to a road victory.
Phillies vs Braves prediction: Phillies 5, Braves 3
