Can Braves stop slide against Pirates?
The Pirates officially survived a preposterous number of early-season tests against quality division rivals. Now, they hope to feast on the competition elsewhere.
Clint Hurdle’s club begins a 24-game stretch outside of the NL Central with tonight’s series opener vs. Atlanta. Online sports book Bovada.lv lists the host team as a 1.5-run favorite, whereas the visiting Braves represent +180 underdogs. The over/under total sits at eight runs.
Bet on This Evening’s MLB Action
After almost getting swept by mighty Chicago, the Buccos must be happy to tussle with non-common foes for the foreseeable future. The fact that MLB-worst Atlanta (9-27) hits PNC Park first only serves as icing on the cake. Kansas City just took two of three from the Braves, who already find themselves an astounding 13 games back in the NL East race.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez hopes that Williams Perez (1-0, 3.54 ERA) can give the club a boost on the bump beginning at 7:05 p.m. ET. Last Wednesday, the 24-year-old tossed eight innings of two-hit ball in a 5-1 triumph over Philadelphia. He’s aiming to earn a permanent rotation spot following the trade of veteran lefty Jhoulys Chacin.
MLB Quick Links: Free Matchup Reports | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Scoreboard | Betting Trends
Despite questionable numbers, Jonathon Niese’s spot is much more secure. The Pittsburgh southpaw (3-2, 5.63) had a sharp outing one week ago in Cincinnati, scattering seven hits across 6 2/3 frames. He’s also no stranger to facing Atlanta. Niese boasts a 9-6 record with a 3.08 ERA in 22 starts against the organization.
Will he propel the Pirates (19-17) to their ninth victory in 12 meetings with the Braves? That seems like a safe bet. Look for Gregory Polanco and Andrew McCutchen to inflict major damage at the dish, too, raising the score higher and higher as the evening progresses.
MONDAY MLB FREE PICK: BRAVES/PIRATES OVER 8 RUNS
Want More Picks, Predictions & Odds From The Spread.com? Follow on Twitter and Facebook or Subscribe to Our News Feeds!