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(MLB) Atlanta vs. Philadelphia,
Money Line: -150.00 Philadelphia (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -150.00 Philadelphia (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Philadelphia Philles may own MLB's worst record (48-81) but Rhys Hoskins has gotten the attention of the baseball world in the opening month of his major league career. Hoskins became the fastest player to reach 10 HRs in baseball's modern era on Saturday, when he reached double digits in the 17th game of his career. He followed with his 11th career HR in Sunday's 6-3 victory over the Cubs, giving him five consecutive games with a round-tripper. The Phillies come off taking two of three against the Cubs and now continue their homestand with a three-game series against the Braves. Atlanta has lost 12 of 18 contests, after the Rockies completed a three-game sweep of the Braves with Sunday's 3-0 shutout in Atlanta. The Braves returned from the All Star break to sweep the Arizona D'backs in a three-game home series to reach 45-45 but have since fallen 14-games under .500 (57-71) by dropping 26 of their last 38 games.
The pitching matchup: Rookie Lucas Sims (2-3 & 4.13 ERA) goes for Atlanta to open the series tonight, opposed by Philly's Aaron Nola (9-9 & 3.58 ERA). Sims lost his first three major-league starts (5.71 ERA) but has given up only two runs on eight hits across 11 innings (1.64 ERA) to defeat Colorado and Seattle. This marks his first start against the Phillies. Nola is hoping to rebound from two consecutive poor starts, allowing 12 ERs on 16 hits and five walks over 11 1/3 innings (9.53 ERA) while losing to San Francisco and Miami. However, let's not forget that even after those two brutal outings, his ERA is a respectable 3.58 on the season. That's because prior to his back-to-back defeats, he produced a 10-start stretch (from June 22 through August 12) in which he posted a 1.71 ERA while going 6-2 (Phils were 7-3). Nola beat the Braves in his only appearance against them this season (3-1 back on June 6), and is 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA in six career starts against Atlanta (team is 4-2).
The pick: Sure, the Phillies own MLB's worst record but as noted above, the Braves 'limp into' this series playing very poorly the last month-and-a-half. What's more, the Phillies have dominated their NL East rival in 2017, beating the Braves 11 times in 13 games and in all seven meetings at Philadelphia. Make the Phillies an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: Rookie Lucas Sims (2-3 & 4.13 ERA) goes for Atlanta to open the series tonight, opposed by Philly's Aaron Nola (9-9 & 3.58 ERA). Sims lost his first three major-league starts (5.71 ERA) but has given up only two runs on eight hits across 11 innings (1.64 ERA) to defeat Colorado and Seattle. This marks his first start against the Phillies. Nola is hoping to rebound from two consecutive poor starts, allowing 12 ERs on 16 hits and five walks over 11 1/3 innings (9.53 ERA) while losing to San Francisco and Miami. However, let's not forget that even after those two brutal outings, his ERA is a respectable 3.58 on the season. That's because prior to his back-to-back defeats, he produced a 10-start stretch (from June 22 through August 12) in which he posted a 1.71 ERA while going 6-2 (Phils were 7-3). Nola beat the Braves in his only appearance against them this season (3-1 back on June 6), and is 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA in six career starts against Atlanta (team is 4-2).
The pick: Sure, the Phillies own MLB's worst record but as noted above, the Braves 'limp into' this series playing very poorly the last month-and-a-half. What's more, the Phillies have dominated their NL East rival in 2017, beating the Braves 11 times in 13 games and in all seven meetings at Philadelphia. Make the Phillies an 8* play.
