This is a matchup of two first place teams, surprise first place teams if you ask me. In the case of the Giants it was expected they would settle in behind the Dodger but recent strong play has them just ahead. <\/p>\n
San Francisco Giants (17-11) vs. Atlanta Braves (17-10)<\/strong><\/p>\n Friday May 2 ATS Matchup Insight<\/a> | CP Insider Gambling Preview<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n They are 7-3 in their last 10 but you wonder how sustainable that performance is.<\/p>\n Thus far SF has struggled at the plate, hitting just .239. However, that has been offset by the third most homers in the league. \u00a0Only time will tell if the numbers mean that this team has more pop than expected or not.<\/p>\n The Giants pitching staff is a study in contrasts.<\/p>\n While Tim Hudson has been brilliant with his new team, the other Tim, Lincecum is enjoying another season of struggles. So far in 2014 he has been more hittable than ever, negating a very good K\/BB ratio.<\/p>\n It kind of looks like the beginning of the end of hoping he might rebound. Atlanta is surprisingly in first place because even though their pitching staff has been missing 3 of it anticipated starters.<\/p>\n Somehow though, they have patched together a staff that has the best ERA in the Majors, giving their lineup beyond Justin Upton and Freddie Freeman a chance to come around.<\/p>\n Upton again is looking like an MVP candidate in April while his brother is looking like a candidate for release. They are averaging just over 3.5 runs per game, a total that is 28th in the league. They just dropped all three in a set with Miami.<\/p>\n If they do that again they may not be in first by the end of the weekend.<\/p>\n Braves lefty Mike Minor had a very strong 2013 season but started the year on the DL.<\/p>\n This will be his first start of 2014 so there could certainly be a little rust. In the past he has been a bit of a slow starter so the extra time off may or may not help. Over the last few season he has a 2-0 records against the Giants with strong peripherals.<\/p>\n I wouldn\u2019t expect him to go too deep into the game in this one.<\/p>\n Neither of these pitchers gives me much confidence. Lincecum might be the perfect antidote for the Braves while Minor is making just his first start of the season and is a notorious slow starter. Probably safest to bet the over. I am not sure why the total is so low to be honest.<\/p>\n Seems like a great value.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Turner Field – Atlanta, GA
\n<\/strong>7:35PM<\/strong>
\nProbable Pitchers<\/strong>
\nSF: \u00a0Tim Lincecum (R)
\n<\/strong>ATL: \u00a0Mike Minor (L)<\/strong>
\nMoneyline: \u00a0Atlanta -142, San Francisco +132<\/strong>
\nTotal: \u00a07.5<\/strong>
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\nWhen it was just walks that was one thing. This is something else.<\/p>\nAtlanta<\/strong><\/h3>\n