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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Friday, August 31 8 Free Picks, all backed by In-Depth Analysis, plus more Rated Selections from the nation’s premier sports analysts, are available daily at PickNation.com NATIONAL LEAGUE N.Y. Mets (73-59) at Atlanta (69-65) The Mets send John Maine (13-8, 3.68 ERA) to the mound at Turner Field in Atlanta tonight trying to stop a five-game slide as they take on the Braves and Tim Hudson (15-6, 3.23).
New York just got swept in a four-game set in Philadelphia and saw its lead in the NL East fall to two games over the Phillies and 4 1/2 over the Braves. The Mets have not dropped six straight games since September 2005. Maine last pitched Sunday when he gave up six runs (three earned) on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-2 home loss to the Dodgers. The righty has struggled in August, going 1-3 with a 7.77 ERA in five starts. Against the Braves on Aug. 9, Maine gave up six runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-6 home loss. On the road is where Maine has shined, going 8-2 with a 3.42 ERA in 12 starts. Hudson is tied for the NL lead in wins and the Braves had won 11 straight games with him on the hill before Sunday’s 5-4 loss to the Cardinals when he allowed five runs on nine hits in five innings. During the 11-game streak, Hudson went 9-0 with a 2.57 ERA. Against the Mets, Hudson has been dominant, going 7-2 with a 3.39 ERA in 10 career starts. In two victories against them this season, Hudson has posted a 1.93 ERA. The Braves have gone 8-3 in the last 11 meetings with New York. The over is 9-3 in Atlanta’s last 12 home games and 26-10-2 the last 38 times the Braves have been favored. The over is also 7-1 the last 10 times the Mets have been underdogs and 9-3-2 in their last 14 road outings. ATS ADVANTAGE: BRAVES AND OVER Al DeMarco, General Manager of PickNation.com, is a 25-year veteran of the handicapping industry who is also the featured handicapping analyst on Comcast Sports TV in New York and Chicago and a regular contributor on Fox Sports, MSNBC and The Sporting News. Read his Daily Blog for his gambling insight, tips and observations at PickNation.com |