7.35pm ET
ARIZONA (16 - 23) at ATLANTA (17 - 21)
Casey Fossum (L) vs. Horacio Ramirez (L)
In a match-up of southpaw starters tonight we're going to recommend a play Under the total of 8 1/2.
Neither Arizona nor Atlanta can handle lefties and we're forecasting a low-scoring contest tonight.
The Diamondbacks are just 3-8 this season against left-handed starters, mainly due to a horrible .219 batting average that has them scoring just 3.9 runs per game against lefties. Prior to last night's extra innings win Arizona had scored just 10 runs in their last six games.
The Braves are just as bad against southpaws, going 3-7 this season and averaging just 3.3 rpg and a .231 batting average. They were the victims of Randy Johnson's first-ever perfect game Tuesday and while we're not expecting a repeat of that performance tonight we do expect them to struggle again offensively. Atlanta were victimized by Milwaukee's Ben Sheets on Sunday to the tune of 18 strikeouts so there offensive woes aren't only limited to lefties...the Braves have failed to score in 21 of their last 22 innings.
Casey Fossum heads to the hill for Arizona and he should be better for his first outing of the season last week. His slightly unusual delivery will make it very difficult for the anemic Braves offense.
The Braves counter with Horacio Ramirez who hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his seven starts this season and his 2.25 ERA overall ranks 7th in the National League. He allowed just five hits in eight innings while striking out five and walking three in his last outing against Milwaukee.
"He's a quality, young, left-handed pitcher," said Brewers manager Ned Yost, a longtime Braves coach before coming to Milwaukee last season. "He has tremendous command of the outside part of the plate with his fastball. He's like Tommy Glavine, but he's got just a little harder fastball."
We don't expect either of these teams to score more than 4 runs tonight and will recommend the Under with confidence.
<B>
Recommended Play: Under 8.5 +100
ARIZONA (16 - 23) at ATLANTA (17 - 21)
Casey Fossum (L) vs. Horacio Ramirez (L)
In a match-up of southpaw starters tonight we're going to recommend a play Under the total of 8 1/2.
Neither Arizona nor Atlanta can handle lefties and we're forecasting a low-scoring contest tonight.
The Diamondbacks are just 3-8 this season against left-handed starters, mainly due to a horrible .219 batting average that has them scoring just 3.9 runs per game against lefties. Prior to last night's extra innings win Arizona had scored just 10 runs in their last six games.
The Braves are just as bad against southpaws, going 3-7 this season and averaging just 3.3 rpg and a .231 batting average. They were the victims of Randy Johnson's first-ever perfect game Tuesday and while we're not expecting a repeat of that performance tonight we do expect them to struggle again offensively. Atlanta were victimized by Milwaukee's Ben Sheets on Sunday to the tune of 18 strikeouts so there offensive woes aren't only limited to lefties...the Braves have failed to score in 21 of their last 22 innings.
Casey Fossum heads to the hill for Arizona and he should be better for his first outing of the season last week. His slightly unusual delivery will make it very difficult for the anemic Braves offense.
The Braves counter with Horacio Ramirez who hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his seven starts this season and his 2.25 ERA overall ranks 7th in the National League. He allowed just five hits in eight innings while striking out five and walking three in his last outing against Milwaukee.
"He's a quality, young, left-handed pitcher," said Brewers manager Ned Yost, a longtime Braves coach before coming to Milwaukee last season. "He has tremendous command of the outside part of the plate with his fastball. He's like Tommy Glavine, but he's got just a little harder fastball."
We don't expect either of these teams to score more than 4 runs tonight and will recommend the Under with confidence.
<B>
Recommended Play: Under 8.5 +100
