Atlanta has been tough on southpaws this season, demolishing the Phillies' Cole Hamels last night. The same treatment awaits Philadelphia's J.A. Happ on Thursday.
I’ve been told the key to making money with Atlanta this year is to back them every time they face a lefthander. If the Braves treatment of Cole Hamels on Wednesday night is any indication, I’m backing up the Brinks truck and throwing it all on Atlanta tonight.
The Braves, who demolished Hamels and the Phillies 11-1, look for a repeat performance against A.J. Happ. He’s talented, he’s 5-0, but he’s also a southpaw. Happ is coming off a complete game 10-0 shutout of Toronto on Saturday and he may need an encore performance to keep the Phillies close.
Philadelphia is 4-13 in its last 17 games. That slide has a lot to due with the loss of Raul Ibañez who is on the disabled list Without him the Phils' lackluster lineup has scored two or fewer runs in five of the last 11 games.
Atlanta is 6-2 against Philadelphia this season and the Braves are poised for their fist series sweep in four years. The Braves have won three straight overall and will look to extend their streak with Javier Vazquez on the hill. The veteran righthander is just 5-7 but his ERA of 3.07 ranks in the top ten in the NL. Vazquez is also 1-0 with a 3.29 ERA in his two starts against the Phils this season. Among starting pitchers this season Javier Vasquez leads the majors with 7.96 strikeouts per 100 pitchers (K/100P).
Oh and about those lefthanders. Atlanta is hitting .272 on the season and .294 in their last 10 games against southpaws.
Free Pick: Braves -136