Posted on
5/24/2007 6:03:15 PM
MLB Betting - New York Mets vs. Atlanta Braves
By Robby Maddux
Tonight, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz face off when the Atlanta Braves (27-19) battle the New York Mets (29-16) as the NL East front runners play the finale of a three-game series at Turner Field.
Atlanta is 2 1/2 games behind NL East-leading New York, and the teams do not play each other again until Aug. 7 at Shea Stadium, making tonight's game a big one.
This will be the third time Smoltz (6-2, 2.85 ERA) and Glavine (5-1, 3.43) have dueled this year. In the Braves' 5-3 win on April 7 in Atlanta, Smoltz gave up two runs and seven hits through six innings of his season debut, while Glavine was touched for a season-high five runs in 5 1-3 innings. Neither likely future Hall of Famer received a decision in Atlanta's 9-6 win in New York on April 22.
Smoltz will be trying to become the NL's first seven-game winner this year. He's coming off one of his best outings in 2007 when he limited AL East-leading Boston to three hits over seven innings in a 14-0 romp on Saturday.
This season, Smoltz is 3-1 with a 1.93 ERA at Turner Field. In 32 games, including 16 starts versus New York in Atlanta, the 40-year-old right-hander is 7-5 with a 3.79 ERA and 13-for-13 in save opportunities.
The Braves also are 26-6 at home against New York in games where Smoltz makes an appearance. His next victory will make him the only pitcher in major league history with 200 wins and 150 saves.
In his last outing, Glavine picked up career win No. 295 despite giving up three runs and a season-high nine hits in a 10-7 win over the New York Yankees on Saturday.
Since joining the Mets in 2003 after spending his first 16 years with the Braves, Glavine is 3-10 with a 5.49 ERA in 17 starts against his former team.
The Mets are a money-shredding 24-51 in the last 75 meetings in Atlanta and 2-5 in their last seven overall against the Braves.
Glavine and Smoltz rank among the most profitable pitchers in baseball earning $625 in 10 starts this season, based on $100 wagers. Smoltz has earned $380 in his 10 starts.
The Braves (-145) enter tonight's game as the luke-warm favorites with a total of 8½ over -115. The Braves are 12-1 in their last 13 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150, while the Mets (+130) are 4-0 in their last four games as a road underdog of +110 to +150.
Total players have collected on the over when these two lock up. The over is 9-3 in the last 12 games played in Atlanta and 14-6-1 in the last 21 meetings overall.
MLB Predictions: New York Mets 6 Atlanta Braves 3
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