Monday night interleague play continues as the Yankees travel to Atlanta to take on the Braves. Both times are red hot and due to that fact the Yanks have opened up a -110 favorite. Find out who we think will continue their winning ways in our MLB Pick of the Day.
The Atlanta Braves had opened as the slight -115 favorites, but early action now list them at -104. THe New York Yankees are now favored on the MLB odds boards at -116, and it looks like we will be in for a tight battle.
Both teams are
streaking.
Before Atlanta
dropped a game to Toronto yesterday they had won 8 of their last 9. Normally
Atlanta has been one of the best home teams in baseball over the years, but so
far this year that really hasn't been the case. They actually have a better
record on the road (20-14) than at home (14-12). Over their last 7 games
Atlanta is averaging close to 5 runs per game at 4.8. They also have not given
up more than 3 earned runs over that stretch, and have been playing outstanding
baseball.
The Yankees are also
in the same boat as Atlanta, although their offense isn't totally in sync with
Derek Jeter in a huge slump, they are getting contribution from guys like
Russell Martin, Raul Ibanez and their regular super-star Robby Cano. The Yanks
are coming off the Subway Series, where they swept the Mets, and they have won
7 of their last 9. They, like the Braves, have also gotten outstanding pitching
over this stretch except for a blemish from CC Sabathia against the Rays.
Both starting
pitchers are coming off their best performances of the year.
The Yankees will send
Ivan Nova to the hill, and before his last start it looked like Nova had hit a
wall, as he was constantly giving up 5 earned runs a game. He turned it around
against Tampa Bay with a 8 inning, 1 earned run 4 hit gem, striking out 5.
Novas ERA still sits at 5.09 on the year but just maybe he is rounding into
form, being that in his last 3 starts the ERA is 3.74.
Atlanta counters with
the lesser known Randall Delgado, who is coming off a 6 1/3rd performance,
where he struck out 7 batters on just 2 hits and 1 earned run and was in
complete command in all of his pitches. This is significant as he has walked 30
base runners in 60 IP. When this guy throws strikes he has the ability to be
dominant.
This is a tough game
to call, since both teams are playing so well, but we have to give the edge to
the Yankees here. They are riding high coming off the sweep, while the Braves
held a 4-0 lead to Toronto, than ended up getting drubbed 12-4, so they
certainly cannot be feeling good about that.
Randall Delgado is
going to be a decent starting pitcher one day, but it is not his time yet and
the Yankees should feast on him, drawing out walks, while blasting some 2-3 run
shots. Ivan Nova should continue his run, this is a good match up for him as
he's struck out 63 on the year and the Braves are up there in the lead league
with 463 Ks on the year.
Slight edge to the
Yanks here at -110 if you wish to add them to your MLB plays of the day.
Our overall record on
the year is 34-35. 11-4 over our last 15.