Sam Clayton
Fresh off a Saturday sweep in which we nailed the M's and White Sox, the month of August started off on the plus side. I circled only one game on today's card and it just so happens to be nationally televised ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.
20 dime - Braves
Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski is one of the best in baseball at what he does. I always give credit where it's rightfully due and Dombrowski has made some great deals throughout his courtship with Detroit. However, he was absolutely fleeced on October 29, 2007 when he traded star-in-the-making Jair Jurrjens to Atlanta for (chuckle) Edgar Renteria. Jurrjens has flown completely under the radar and transformed into one of the elite pitchers in all of baseball. Don't let his record (9-7, 2.61) fool you, Jair can flat out deal. He mixes his pitches better than most, his stuff is downright nasty and he's better with every single start he makes.
Let's take a look at the numbers... Jurrjens is 5-4 with a 2.51 ERA and 1.17 WHIP at Turner Field this season. His last four starts, he's 3-0 with a 1.75 ERA and a jaw-dropping 0.81 WHIP. And in two career starts against the Dodgers, the Curacaon is 2-0 with a 1.30 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Love his chances tonight against L.A. especially given such a low line. Dodgers' starter Chad Billingsley has fallen into a major rut since winning his ninth game on June 14. The highly touted right-hander has won only once his last eight starts and he's posted a 6.46 ERA over that span.
Alanta is reeling right now having won 7 of 10 home games since the All-Star break. They are getting timely hitting, enough so that Jurrjens and Javier Vazquez (two of the best ERA possessors in baseball) have been able to add 'W's to their record. The Tomahawks have won 5 of 6 against the Dodgers and 6 of 8 in the confines of Turner Field. Play the Braves as your Sunday Night Baseball winner.