Power Play Wins
NY Mets
O.C. Dooley
2 Units NY Mets -135
It is rather amazing that Atlanta is an underdog today even though they are seeking a 5th consecutive victory and an enormous 6-game lead in the National League East Division race. I will admit that Johan Santana has a career 2.25 ERA against today’s opponent but he has been credited with a victory just ONCE when facing Atlanta. One of the reasons why Santana is a heavy favorite is that he is coming off a THREE-HIT gem earlier this week in what resulted in a 3-0 victory for the Mets against an opponent (Reds) who also is leading their division. Santana’s gem early this week was his first SHUTOUT performance since back in the 2008 campaign. It was not all that long ago when Santana was viewed as baseball’s best pitcher but these days he is not even good enough to make the All-Star roster of the National League which must serve as extra motivation for the veteran. Santana gets to flash his stuff in front of a NATIONAL-TV audience this afternoon (TBS) against an opponent who has the best overall record in the senior circuit. Odds are very strong that Atlanta’s starter will not break the win column this afternoon as veteran Derek Lowe has not had “double digit” wins at the All Star Break since way back in 2003. To make matters worse Lowe has always struggled against the Mets posting a disastrous SEVEN ERA. Despite all of their prosperity in the first-half of the regular season, Atlanta is only 1-4 the past five times Lowe has been their starter. According to my database research this is a tremendous percentage wager as the Braves are a very poor 15-35 on the ROAD in the past three years after a “margin” win of at least 4 runs. In games where Ron Darling has been the home plate UMPIRE this season, the HOME team has posted a positive 12-6 mark. I will wrap up this analysis with a pair of UNDEFEATED database angles. First of all Atlanta is 0-8/ROAD this season when facing a durable starting pitcher who averages at least 6’ innings per assignment. The Mets are 7-0/HOME this season when off consecutive games where the offense failed to hit a homer.
C-STARS SPORTS
1000 UNIT* MLB* Chicago White Sox , over Kansas City
1000 UNIT* MLB* Houston Astros, St Louis Over the total
5000 UNIT* MLB* New York Mets, over Atlanta
The Duke's Sports
Arizona (-105) for 1.5 Units
Arizona, which is batting a healthy .285 vs righties, should finally be able to drive in some runs vs converted reliever --Alex Sanabia who has allowed 5 ER over 8 1/3 IP since he bumped from Double A in early June.. We'll look for the D-Backs to give rookie Barry Enright the needed run support. AZ is 6-2 vs a pitcher with a WHIP over 1.30. And the Marlins continue to struggle vs the National League west. AZ the call.