Minor thoroughly dominated the DBacks last year in Arizona (won the game 10-2), and over the past three games Minor has only given up 13 hits in 20 innings. Problem is, 5 of those hits were HRs. But I'm gonna take my chances that the DBacks are not going yard tonight on Minor, since they hit poor vs lefties.
I'm giving the offensive edge to the Braves in this one, bullpen edge to DBacks, starting pitchers roughly even. I might normally lean Miley, but he has a 12.71 ERA vs the Braves in the 6 innings he's faced them before....and like I said, Minor cruised through 8 innings last year in Phoenix.
Here's what turned me for sure: the Braves are 4-0 on Mondays this year, and 10-2 in the first game of a series (6-1 on road), and the DBacks are 1-2 in Monday games at home this year. Braves are hitting .290 in the last 10 games vs lefties. And the DBacks are 1-4 this year against lefty starters.
This game is billed as a toss-up, but with the angles in play and the Braves outscoring the DBacks over the last 10 games, I'll take the Braves to shake-loose from the funk they had in San Francisco.
Money Stat: Braves were 3-1 in Arizona last year and 5-2 overall.
BRAVES
$200 to win $182
I'm giving the offensive edge to the Braves in this one, bullpen edge to DBacks, starting pitchers roughly even. I might normally lean Miley, but he has a 12.71 ERA vs the Braves in the 6 innings he's faced them before....and like I said, Minor cruised through 8 innings last year in Phoenix.
Here's what turned me for sure: the Braves are 4-0 on Mondays this year, and 10-2 in the first game of a series (6-1 on road), and the DBacks are 1-2 in Monday games at home this year. Braves are hitting .290 in the last 10 games vs lefties. And the DBacks are 1-4 this year against lefty starters.
This game is billed as a toss-up, but with the angles in play and the Braves outscoring the DBacks over the last 10 games, I'll take the Braves to shake-loose from the funk they had in San Francisco.
Money Stat: Braves were 3-1 in Arizona last year and 5-2 overall.
BRAVES
$200 to win $182