PREMIUM
Afternoon SWEEPER PASS
(MLB) Atlanta vs. Pittsburgh,
Money Line: -140.00 Pittsburgh (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -140.00 Pittsburgh (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Pirates opened the season by losing twice at Fenway (final game of the series was rained out) but have taken the first two of this three-game home series with the Braves, evening their record at 2-2. The Braves have now dropped three in a row to fall to 1-4. They committed two errors that led to three unearned runs in Saturday's 6-4 loss and continue to struggle with runners on base. Atlanta is 9-for-43 with RISP through five games, leaving 39 runners on base and grounding into eight double plays.
The pitching matchup: Each team trots out its ace for the series finale, Julio Teheran (0-0, 0.00 ERA) for Atlanta and Gerrit Cole (0-1, 9.00 ERA) for Pittsburgh. It was the "same old song" In Teferan's 2017 debut, as Atlanta's best pitcher rarely gets any support. The Braves averaged just 3.35 runs in Teheran's starts last season (2nd-worst fewest among starters) and could not score push across a run in Monday's 6-0 defeat at the New York Mets. He scattered four hits while striking out six over six scoreless innings. He blanked the Pirates over 7 2/3 innings in his only start against them in 2016 and is 3-1 with a 3.51 ERA in seven career games (six starts / team is 5-1) against Pittsburgh. Cole pitched poorly in his 2017 debut at Fenway, giving up five runs on seven hits in five innings. He battled injuries in 2016, landing on the DL twice while making just 21 starts but posted a 3.88 ERA. Cole is 3-0 in four career starts against the Braves (Pirates are 4-0), giving up two runs or fewer in each outing while throwing seven innings three times (1.73 ERA)..
The pick: I went against Teheran and the Braves on Opening Day and will do so again here. The Braves have scored four runs in each of the first two games of this series, yet have lost both. The Braves have struck out 44 times in 178 at-bats through five games and will face a starter (Cole) who has "had their number," owning a 1.73 ERA in four meetings. The Braves are 4-11 in their past 15 games at PNC Park, so expect Teheran's hard luck to continue. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: Each team trots out its ace for the series finale, Julio Teheran (0-0, 0.00 ERA) for Atlanta and Gerrit Cole (0-1, 9.00 ERA) for Pittsburgh. It was the "same old song" In Teferan's 2017 debut, as Atlanta's best pitcher rarely gets any support. The Braves averaged just 3.35 runs in Teheran's starts last season (2nd-worst fewest among starters) and could not score push across a run in Monday's 6-0 defeat at the New York Mets. He scattered four hits while striking out six over six scoreless innings. He blanked the Pirates over 7 2/3 innings in his only start against them in 2016 and is 3-1 with a 3.51 ERA in seven career games (six starts / team is 5-1) against Pittsburgh. Cole pitched poorly in his 2017 debut at Fenway, giving up five runs on seven hits in five innings. He battled injuries in 2016, landing on the DL twice while making just 21 starts but posted a 3.88 ERA. Cole is 3-0 in four career starts against the Braves (Pirates are 4-0), giving up two runs or fewer in each outing while throwing seven innings three times (1.73 ERA)..
The pick: I went against Teheran and the Braves on Opening Day and will do so again here. The Braves have scored four runs in each of the first two games of this series, yet have lost both. The Braves have struck out 44 times in 178 at-bats through five games and will face a starter (Cole) who has "had their number," owning a 1.73 ERA in four meetings. The Braves are 4-11 in their past 15 games at PNC Park, so expect Teheran's hard luck to continue. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play.
