MLB odds Preview: Braves and Nationals Continue Series in DC
The anticipated Strasburg, Hanson matchup never came off Tuesday. Now the Nationals and Braves turn to veterans Livan Hernandez and Tim Hudson for Game 2.
It was to have been a matchup of young fireballers when the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves opened their series in D.C. on Tuesday night. Instead, Washington rookie Stephen Strasburg was scratched due to shoulder discomfort, and announcement that brought out some boos from the near-capacity crowd at Nationals Park.
Strasburg's replacement, Miguel Batista, tossed five shutout frames and the Nats took advantage of Atlanta fielding gaffes to register a 3-0 win in Game 1 of the set. The win gives Washington a 4-3 edge in the season series between the two clubs and marked the fourth 'under' the teams have played in 2010 with one 'over' and a pair of 'pushes.'
Taking the mound in D.C. on Hump Day will be Tim Hudson (11-9, 2.47) for the Braves and Livan Hernandez (12-8, 3.12) for the Nats. Atlanta has been installed as 135-140 betting favorites with the total set at eight.
Neither pitcher will be a mystery to the opposing batters, and yet I can't help but feel neither lineup will be able to do much despite knowing what's coming.
Hernandez will be making his second start of the season against the Braves, his fifth in the last two campaigns and 28th of his career. Since rejoining the Nationals last summer, they're 2-1 in his three assignments versus Atlanta.
The beefy Cuban worked the first 5 1/3 innings on May 4 as a plus 105 underdog, allowing just one earned run in Washington's eventual 6-3 triumph. That brings his teams' record to 8-19 the previous 27 times Hernandez faces the Braves. Two of those eight wins came in the playoffs, so he hasn't had much luck in regular season outings.
This will be the third time this season Hudson has taken on Washington, and 15th go since joining the Braves in 2005. Atlanta is 9-5 in the 14 starts the right-hander has made up to now, 1-2 in three outings at Nationals Park. Hudson's ERA in those 14 games and 101 innings is a very impressive 1.51.
Hudson and the Braves fell as 130 chalk when he pitched here on May 6 despite his fine effort. The former Auburn War Eagle chunked seven innings and allowed two runs, both solo shots, in Atlanta's 3-2 defeat.
Going at least seven innings has been the calling card for both pitchers in 2010. Hernandez has worked seven or more in nine of his 20 outings with Hudson doing so in 12 of his 20 starts, 11 of his last 14.
Plate duty among the umpires falls to Bill Miller this evening. If you are one who blindly backs strong umpiring trends, then play the Nationals and the 'under.' Home teams are 17-5 in Miller's previous 22 plate assignments in 2010, 6-2 when the home team is the underdog. The 'under' is 16-6.
Mother Nature should cooperate with bettors, through she is hinting at a 30 percent chance of spotty t-storms after nightfall in the nation's capital. It's going to be a warm, muggy one with the thermometer still reading in the upper-80s at game time. Winds are presently forecast out of the south at 8-10 mph (1B to LF).
The NL East rivals conclude the set Thursday with Derek Lowe (11-10, 4.48) the scheduled pitcher for Atlanta opposite Washington's Craig Stammen (5-12, 5.50).
NOTE: W-L records displayed for starting pitchers are team records in games the pitchers start.
The anticipated Strasburg, Hanson matchup never came off Tuesday. Now the Nationals and Braves turn to veterans Livan Hernandez and Tim Hudson for Game 2.
It was to have been a matchup of young fireballers when the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves opened their series in D.C. on Tuesday night. Instead, Washington rookie Stephen Strasburg was scratched due to shoulder discomfort, and announcement that brought out some boos from the near-capacity crowd at Nationals Park.
Strasburg's replacement, Miguel Batista, tossed five shutout frames and the Nats took advantage of Atlanta fielding gaffes to register a 3-0 win in Game 1 of the set. The win gives Washington a 4-3 edge in the season series between the two clubs and marked the fourth 'under' the teams have played in 2010 with one 'over' and a pair of 'pushes.'
Taking the mound in D.C. on Hump Day will be Tim Hudson (11-9, 2.47) for the Braves and Livan Hernandez (12-8, 3.12) for the Nats. Atlanta has been installed as 135-140 betting favorites with the total set at eight.
Neither pitcher will be a mystery to the opposing batters, and yet I can't help but feel neither lineup will be able to do much despite knowing what's coming.
Hernandez will be making his second start of the season against the Braves, his fifth in the last two campaigns and 28th of his career. Since rejoining the Nationals last summer, they're 2-1 in his three assignments versus Atlanta.
The beefy Cuban worked the first 5 1/3 innings on May 4 as a plus 105 underdog, allowing just one earned run in Washington's eventual 6-3 triumph. That brings his teams' record to 8-19 the previous 27 times Hernandez faces the Braves. Two of those eight wins came in the playoffs, so he hasn't had much luck in regular season outings.
This will be the third time this season Hudson has taken on Washington, and 15th go since joining the Braves in 2005. Atlanta is 9-5 in the 14 starts the right-hander has made up to now, 1-2 in three outings at Nationals Park. Hudson's ERA in those 14 games and 101 innings is a very impressive 1.51.
Hudson and the Braves fell as 130 chalk when he pitched here on May 6 despite his fine effort. The former Auburn War Eagle chunked seven innings and allowed two runs, both solo shots, in Atlanta's 3-2 defeat.
Going at least seven innings has been the calling card for both pitchers in 2010. Hernandez has worked seven or more in nine of his 20 outings with Hudson doing so in 12 of his 20 starts, 11 of his last 14.
Plate duty among the umpires falls to Bill Miller this evening. If you are one who blindly backs strong umpiring trends, then play the Nationals and the 'under.' Home teams are 17-5 in Miller's previous 22 plate assignments in 2010, 6-2 when the home team is the underdog. The 'under' is 16-6.
Mother Nature should cooperate with bettors, through she is hinting at a 30 percent chance of spotty t-storms after nightfall in the nation's capital. It's going to be a warm, muggy one with the thermometer still reading in the upper-80s at game time. Winds are presently forecast out of the south at 8-10 mph (1B to LF).
The NL East rivals conclude the set Thursday with Derek Lowe (11-10, 4.48) the scheduled pitcher for Atlanta opposite Washington's Craig Stammen (5-12, 5.50).
NOTE: W-L records displayed for starting pitchers are team records in games the pitchers start.