PREMIUM
**$20 TUESDAY!** Rogers' ROUND TRIPPER >> 21-11-3 Since All-Star Break!
(MLB) Atlanta vs. Arizona,
Money Line: -147.00 Arizona (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -147.00 Arizona (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Arizona Diamondbacks opened their three-game home series with the Atlanta Braves with a 10-3 win Monday night at Chase Field. J.D. Martinez, who arrived from Detroit in exchange for three prospects last Tuesday, was hit in the hand by a pitch in his debut and missed three games before playing his first full contest with Arizona on Monday. His three-run HR last night was a pleasant reminder of why the D'backs traded for him. The 57-42 D'backs are in a virtual second-place tie with the Rockies (both trail the Dodgers by 11 1/2 games in the NL West) but the two teams hold down the NL's two wild card spots, 5 1/2 games clear of the Cubs. The Braves have now dropped six of eight since reaching the break-even mark at 45-45 on July 16, following a three-game sweep of Arizona in Atlanta (Braves are currently 9 1/2 games out in the wild card chase).
The pitching matchup: Mike Foltynewicz (8-5 & 3.87 ERA) starts for Atlanta and Taijuan Walker (6-4 & 3.61 ERA) for Arizona. Foltynewicz remained unbeaten in his last nine starts with a win on Thursday in Los Angeles, ending the Dodgers' 11-game winning streak. He allowed three runs on six hits across 6 1/3 innings to move to 5-0 in his nine-game unbeaten stretch (Braves are 8-1!). He has been particularly tough on opponents of late, going 4-0 with a 2.93 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 30 2/3 frames over his last five outings. However, Foltynewicz is 0-1 with a 5.96 ERA in five career starts against the D'backs (team is 1-4). Walker came off the paternity list Sunday and hopes to end a four-game win-less streak (he's 0-1 but Arizona is 2-2) against the same team he faced for the first time 11 days ago, settling for a no-decision in Atlanta despite allowing two runs over six innings. That's his only appearance against the Braves.
The pick: Yes, Foltynewicz is "in a groove," but note that the D'backs are 10-5 in Walker's 2017 starts, giving him the 12th-best moneyline mark among starters at plus-$604. Then there is Arizona's 35-17 home record (second-best to only the Dodgers'), where the D'backs are outscoring opponents by almost two runs (5.75-4,00 RPG)! Make Arizona an 8* play
The pitching matchup: Mike Foltynewicz (8-5 & 3.87 ERA) starts for Atlanta and Taijuan Walker (6-4 & 3.61 ERA) for Arizona. Foltynewicz remained unbeaten in his last nine starts with a win on Thursday in Los Angeles, ending the Dodgers' 11-game winning streak. He allowed three runs on six hits across 6 1/3 innings to move to 5-0 in his nine-game unbeaten stretch (Braves are 8-1!). He has been particularly tough on opponents of late, going 4-0 with a 2.93 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 30 2/3 frames over his last five outings. However, Foltynewicz is 0-1 with a 5.96 ERA in five career starts against the D'backs (team is 1-4). Walker came off the paternity list Sunday and hopes to end a four-game win-less streak (he's 0-1 but Arizona is 2-2) against the same team he faced for the first time 11 days ago, settling for a no-decision in Atlanta despite allowing two runs over six innings. That's his only appearance against the Braves.
The pick: Yes, Foltynewicz is "in a groove," but note that the D'backs are 10-5 in Walker's 2017 starts, giving him the 12th-best moneyline mark among starters at plus-$604. Then there is Arizona's 35-17 home record (second-best to only the Dodgers'), where the D'backs are outscoring opponents by almost two runs (5.75-4,00 RPG)! Make Arizona an 8* play
