The New York Yankees will look to continue their National League blitz tonight when they open a three game series with the Atlanta Braves in the Big Apple. This evening’s game one clash, which features starters Mike Minor and C.C. Sabathia, is scheduled for a 7:00pm ET start on ESPN. MLB Odds have the Yankees listed as a -200 moneyline favorite while the Braves are drawing +170 odds to pull off the upset. Tonight’s game total is set at nine runs; the Under is favored at -125 odds.
When the Yankees opened inter-league play on June 8th, they were coming off two consecutive series wins which had improved their record to 31-25. The club now owns a 40-25 record and a nine game win streak after mowing through the Mets, Braves, and Nationals. New York, which faced Atlanta and Washington on the road, will attempt to continue its run tonight as the Braves roll back around for a series at Yankee Stadium.
Getting the call for New York tonight is veteran left hander C.C. Sabathia. Sabathia, who is looking for his ninth win of the season, sports a 3.70 ERA and 1.27 WHIP after 13 starts. The Yankees are 7-3 in his last 10 appearances and the big southpaw has worked seven inning in five consecutive starts. His last outing came against the Braves as he allowed 10 hits and four earned runs in a 6-4 New York win at Turner Field.
Atlanta, after being swept at home by New York last week and losing two out of three to Baltimore over the weekend, will look to capitalize on the Yankees sweep of division leader Washington. Despite the Nationals dropping three in a row at home this weekend, the Braves, at 35-31, still trail Washington by four games in the National League East standings. Atlanta is also looking over its shoulder at the Mets, who sit 4.5 games out of first.
Mike Minor, who pitched in the Braves 4-6 loss to New York last Tuesday, will again counter Sabathia. Minor, despite his struggles this season (6.01 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, .273 BAA), out dueled Sabathia last week, yielding just five hits and one earned run over 7 1/3 innings. The performance marked the left handed Minor’s second consecutive solid outing as he gave up just four hits and one earned in an 8-2 win over Miami on the seventh of June.
MLB Odds Betting Trend: The Yankees are 8-2 straight up (Under 8-2 in same 10 games) in their last 10 games as a home favorite with a total between 8.5 and 9 runs (average margin of victory 3.9 rpg).
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MLB Picks 2012 Atlanta Braves vs New York Yankees: Provided by TopBet.com
Atlanta Braves +1.5 (-115), Over 9 (+105), +170 (Moneyline)
New York Yankees -1.5 (-105), Under 9 (-125), -200 (Moneyline)
