Hot and cold MLB teams
LAS VEGAS, NV (The Spread) – The baseball season is underway and I would like to discuss a few teams that I have noticed that we can take advantage on while the season is still early.
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The Miami Marlins have a revamped lineup that is fully healthy and swinging the bat well. As of this writing, they are hitting .276 on the season and averaging 5.1 runs per game. Stanton, Ozuna, McGehee, and Hechavarria are all hitting over .300 and this gives them a well-rounded lineup that scores runs. Saltalamacchia and Garrett Jones have been nice off-season additions as well and I look for the Marlins to make us a nice profit during the month of April.
The Marlins have a decent starting rotation anchored by Jose Fernandez who is virtually unbeatable at home, along with Eovaldi throwing 99-100 heat at the plate and Tom Koehler who has excellent control and can make quality starts. The Marlins bullpen has also been a nice surprise this season and I will give the Marlins overall pitching grade a ‘B+’. The Marlins have 9 road games for the remainder of the month of April vs. the Phillies, Braves, and the Mets. I feel the Marlins have the pitchers to keep them in games and a strong enough lineup to get their fair share of wins in these games, especially vs. the Braves and the Mets who are not hitting the ball this season. Let’s keep an eye on the Miami Marlins this month as I strongly feel they can make us a substantial profit.
The Atlanta Braves starting rotation took a hit in the off-season and they had to scramble for some replacements. The rotation is holding their own currently but I don’t see them holding up, especially during a 3-game series this weekend vs. the Nationals. Even if the Braves starting pitchers do hold their own, the offense is simply not there and I do not see them waking up anytime soon. The Braves are only averaging 2.2 runs a game as of this writing and hitting .220 as a team. Jason Heyward is in a slump and B.J. Upton might be trying to break the record for strikeouts as he has already struck out 13 times in 29 at-bats.
The Braves will be overpriced the first two games this weekend vs. the Nationals. The third game on Sunday they are expected to have Harang on the mound who the Nationals should have fun with. The Nationals are expected to counter with Gio Gonzalez on Sunday who the Braves are only hitting .228 against. It could be possible that the Washington Nationals sweep the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field this weekend to make a statement. The Braves also have a tough 3-game road trip at Philly when they will see Cliff Lee and A.J. Burnett. They will then have a 6 game home stand vs. the Marlins and the Reds. I have already mentioned what a danger the Marlins are above, and the Cincinnati Reds have a starting rotation that can be dangerous although their offense has been struggling out the gate this season. In closing, the Atlanta Braves are a team that is overvalued currently and I will continue to be looking to play against them in some key situations for this month of April.
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