**Braves at Mets**

--Most sports books are listing New York (10-2, +737) as a minus 160 favorite with a total of 9 1/2 'under' (minus 120). Gamblers can avoid the 'chalky' straight price and back the Mets on the run line (minus 1 1/2 runs) for a plus-130 payoff.

--Pedro Martinez collected his 200th career win Monday when the Mets won the series opener against the Braves, 4-3. The Mets took the money as minus 200 favorites, but they failed to cash run-line bets. The seven combined runs allowed 'under' backers to cash tickets.

--With the loss, Atlanta (6-8, -306) fell two games below .500 and five games back of division-leading New York.

--Willie Randolph's club has been the best team in baseball to bet on, producing better than seven units of profit. The Mets are 7-2 at Shea Stadium.

--Bobby Cox's team has lost five of its eight road games.

--Victor Zambrano (1-0, 5.40 ERA) will make his second strart of the year in this spot. The veteran right-hander is 2-3 with a 3.62 career ERA against the Braves.

--Kyle Davies (0-1, 8.38) faced the Mets once as a rookie last year and he beat them by working 7 1/3 scoreless innings.

--Atlanta will be missing the left side of its infield for this entire series. Chipper Jones, who has been a major Mets killer throughout his career, is on the 15-day disabled list with ankle and knee injuries, while shortstop Edgar Renteria (rib cage strain) is out for a week.

--The 'under' has cashed in four consecutive games for the Braves. However, the 'over' is 7-1 in their road outings.

--The 'over' is 5-4 for the Mets at home.


**Yankees at Blue Jays**

--Only two games separate the five teams in the American League East. Unfortunately for the Yankees and Blue Jays, they find themselves tied for last place in the division, two games behind Boston.

--New York (6-6, -156) lost the first two games of this road trip before dodging a sweep by winning Sunday at Minnesota, 9-3.

--Toronto (6-6, -84) has lost back-to-back games coming into this brief two-game series in the Bronx. The Blue Jays won the opener of a three-game set at Chicago, but the White Sox won the last two games of the series. The Jays are 3-3 on this this eight-game trip, winning two of three at Fenway Park to begin the trek.

--So much for the sophomore jinx. Gustavo Chacin (2-0, 4.63) is looking for his third straight win in as many starts when he gets the ball tonight against the Yankees. Chacin struggled against the Bronx Bombers last year, posting a 1-4 record and 4.99 ERA in five starts.

--Randy Johnson (2-1, 2.25) has compiled a 13-6 record and 3.13 lifetime ERA against the Blue Jays.

--Derek Jeter is 6-for-15 (.400) against Chacin with a pair of triples, while Gary Sheffield is 4-for-11 (.364) off the southpaw with two homers and one double. Johnny Damon is 4-for-8 (.500) against Chacin with three doubles, but Alex Rodriguez hasn't fared as well (.182, 2-for-11, one homer).

--Alex Rios and Reed Johnson are both 4-for-9 (.444) with one double apiece against the Big Unit.

--The 'over' is 6-1 in the Yankees' last seven games.

--The 'over' is 8-3-1 for the Blue Jays.

--Most spots are listing the Yankees as minus 175 favorites with a total of nine 'under' (minus 115). They are minus 110 on the run line.

**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**

--Minnesota RHP Carlos Silva is 4-0 with a 2.86 ERA in five career appearances against the Angels. Meanwhile, L.A.'s Kelvim Escobar is just 3-6 with a bloated 5.96 lifetime ERA against the Twins.

--Oakland RHP Esteban Loaiza is 11-4 with a 2.58 career ERA against Detroit.

--Tampa Bay's Russell Branyan owns Boston RHP Matt Clement. Branyan is 4-for-11 (.364) against Clement with three homers.

--Cincy slugger Ken Griffey Jr. (inflamed tendon, right knee) has been placed on the 15-day disabled list. The injury is not considered serious for the 36-year-old, who played in 128 games last year and hit .301 with 35 homers and 92 RBIs.

--Jim Edmonds (shoulder) is not expected to play in the Milwaukee series.

--Philadelphia RHP Cory Lidle owns a 6-0 record and 2.66 ERA against the Nationals.