The Coach's MLB Heavy Hitter - (Bigtime Blowout Potential)
(MLB) Pittsburgh vs. Atlanta,
Point Spread: 1.50 | -135.00 Atlanta (Home)
Result: Loss
The Atlanta Braves cooled off the red hot Pirates last night, edging Pittsburgh by a score of 5-4. The Pirates are a favorite here in the series finale, but I like the home team as an underdog.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Gerrit Cole will be on the mound for the Braves, and he's having himself a breakout season. Cole (8-2, 1.90 ERA) allowed a pair of runs on five hits over seven innings in a win at San Francisco in his last start. The Braves counter with Alex Wood, who has been on a roll of late. He's won three consecutive starts, surrendering just three runs over 22 innings.

2. Freddie Freeman - Atlanta's first baseman is hitting .476 the last seven days, and he's riding a nine game hit streak. He's 2-for-5 lifetime versus Cole.

3. X-Factor - The Pirates are 19-40 in the last 59 meetings in Atlanta, and today's umpire has seen the home team prevail in seven of his last nine when calling balls and strikes.

Selection: This is a play on the Atlanta Braves +1.5 (8*)