Chicago Cubs +145 (Dempster) @ San Diego Padres -165 (Latos); Total: 6.5
The San Diego Padres host the Chicago Cubs tonight in a 10:05 eastern start in another must win as they find themselves deep in this Wild Card race with the Atlanta Braves and the division race with the Giants and the barely breathing Colorado Rockies.
Mat Latos (17-12, 2.91) gets the start for the home club at Petco, and will look to get back on the winning side of things and snag a little of his former success against the woeful Cub offense. Latos has certainly struggled in the last month of the season and some have pointed towards fatigue. In his 5 starts in the season’s final month, the Padres are 1-4 and he has received the decision in 3 of the losses. He was rocked in St. Louis (8ER in 1.1) and roughed up at Petco versus the Giants (5ER in 4.0). Fortunately for the Padres tonight, the guy they are up against got rocked in his last outing as well.
Ryan Dempster (15-17, 3.87) will take the ball for the Cubs and continue to play the roll of spoiler. In his last outing, however, he was destroyed by the Giants, who were coming off a loss and found themselves in a must win situation. They came through in epic proportion, knocking Dempster out in the second inning and hung 9 earned on the guy. Dempster was coming off back to back 7 inning shutout performances, at Florida and at Milwaukee and may have some success tonight, getting back to his real self against a different NL West foe.
I’m still on the Padres at home in the must-win slot, and really like this over tonight. 6.5 seems easy considering the Latos struggles, and the situation.
Plays: Padres and the Over.
Florida Marlins +162 (Sanchez) @ Atlanta Braves -182 (Hudson); Total: 7.5
The Braves pulled off an extra inning walkoff win last night in front of the home crowd, in the park they almost seem to be unbeatable. Bobby Cox has decided to go with Hudson and Lowe on three days rest to finish this must-sweep series now that the division is unreachable. They have their eyes set on the Wild Card and seem to have the inside track at reaching it.
Tim Hudson (18-14, 2.80) has been the ace of the Braves staff this season, just not of late. In his 5 September starts, Hudson is 1-4 with a 6.10 ERA. That is not very ace-like. As they broke him down in his last outing, the consensus is that Hudson is pressing. He is trying too hard not to make a mistake and is failing miserably because of it. Perhaps he can relax a little bit tonight against the Fish, with the Wild Card very much in reach. The Braves need Hudson to have his best tonight and can’t afford to let the Marlins take any of these games in this series. In his last start against the Marlins, Hudson went 7 strong, allowing just 1 earned on 6 hits in a big 12-1 win for his Braves. I look for of the same tonight.
Anibal Sanchez (15-15, 3.60) will take his shot at shutting down the Braves at home. Best of luck to you, Sanchez. Anibal has really struggled in September, as well. Perhaps that should be the theme of this blog. In his 22 innings in 4 starts, Sanchez has allowed 17 earned and one of those came in his lone win at Washington (his only win). In the other three starts, he was dreadful.
The Braves win again at home, but some runs will be scored tonight against these struggling September starters.
Play: Braves and the Over.
The San Diego Padres host the Chicago Cubs tonight in a 10:05 eastern start in another must win as they find themselves deep in this Wild Card race with the Atlanta Braves and the division race with the Giants and the barely breathing Colorado Rockies.
Mat Latos (17-12, 2.91) gets the start for the home club at Petco, and will look to get back on the winning side of things and snag a little of his former success against the woeful Cub offense. Latos has certainly struggled in the last month of the season and some have pointed towards fatigue. In his 5 starts in the season’s final month, the Padres are 1-4 and he has received the decision in 3 of the losses. He was rocked in St. Louis (8ER in 1.1) and roughed up at Petco versus the Giants (5ER in 4.0). Fortunately for the Padres tonight, the guy they are up against got rocked in his last outing as well.
Ryan Dempster (15-17, 3.87) will take the ball for the Cubs and continue to play the roll of spoiler. In his last outing, however, he was destroyed by the Giants, who were coming off a loss and found themselves in a must win situation. They came through in epic proportion, knocking Dempster out in the second inning and hung 9 earned on the guy. Dempster was coming off back to back 7 inning shutout performances, at Florida and at Milwaukee and may have some success tonight, getting back to his real self against a different NL West foe.
I’m still on the Padres at home in the must-win slot, and really like this over tonight. 6.5 seems easy considering the Latos struggles, and the situation.
Plays: Padres and the Over.
Florida Marlins +162 (Sanchez) @ Atlanta Braves -182 (Hudson); Total: 7.5
The Braves pulled off an extra inning walkoff win last night in front of the home crowd, in the park they almost seem to be unbeatable. Bobby Cox has decided to go with Hudson and Lowe on three days rest to finish this must-sweep series now that the division is unreachable. They have their eyes set on the Wild Card and seem to have the inside track at reaching it.
Tim Hudson (18-14, 2.80) has been the ace of the Braves staff this season, just not of late. In his 5 September starts, Hudson is 1-4 with a 6.10 ERA. That is not very ace-like. As they broke him down in his last outing, the consensus is that Hudson is pressing. He is trying too hard not to make a mistake and is failing miserably because of it. Perhaps he can relax a little bit tonight against the Fish, with the Wild Card very much in reach. The Braves need Hudson to have his best tonight and can’t afford to let the Marlins take any of these games in this series. In his last start against the Marlins, Hudson went 7 strong, allowing just 1 earned on 6 hits in a big 12-1 win for his Braves. I look for of the same tonight.
Anibal Sanchez (15-15, 3.60) will take his shot at shutting down the Braves at home. Best of luck to you, Sanchez. Anibal has really struggled in September, as well. Perhaps that should be the theme of this blog. In his 22 innings in 4 starts, Sanchez has allowed 17 earned and one of those came in his lone win at Washington (his only win). In the other three starts, he was dreadful.
The Braves win again at home, but some runs will be scored tonight against these struggling September starters.
Play: Braves and the Over.
