Atlanta (10-10) at Cleveland (12-8)
When: Sunday, April 21st, 2019
Where: Progressive Field,
Cleveland, Ohio
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Cleveland -130/8
After an entertaining double-header on Saturday, the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians will play the rubber-match of their three-game series on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, as a couple of rising young hurlers will take the mound. After getting their opener rained-out on Friday night, the teams had to play two on Saturday and the Indians extended Atlanta’s losing streak to four with an 8-4 triumph behind Corey Kluber and two relievers. The nightcap was all Cleveland for the most of the game until a furious Braves rally in the ninth inning. The Indians led 7-0 after four innings and 7-3 heading into the ninth, but Ronald Acuna, Jr.’s two-run double capped the five-run rally and Atlanta held on for an 8-7 victory. Six Cleveland relievers allowed six runs on six hits with five walks in 2.2 innings in the second game after the Indians offense clubbed Atlanta starters Julio Teheran and Touki Toussaint for 12 runs and 13 hits for the day. Braves’ first baseman Freddie Freeman extended his on-base streak to 20 games with a walk in the nightcap. Cleveland’s Carlos Santana went 3-for-5 in the first game and added a hit, a run scored and an RBI in the nightcap, raising his average to .397. Lefty Max Fried will go up against Cleveland’s Shane Bieber with a total set at 7.5.
Pitchers: Braves – Max Fried (2-0, 0.92 ERA) | Indians – Shane Bieber (2-0, 1.71)
The Braves have been growing starting pitchers on the farm for decades now and Fried is the next phenom to make his way to the majors. After a couple of scoreless outings out of the bullpen in the opening series against Philadelphia, Fried has produced three quality starts since. He allowed his first two earned runs of the season in a no-decision Tuesday against Arizona, giving up seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts over six frames. Fried has struck out 12 with two walks in 18 innings as a starter and has been tough on right-handed hitters (.185 AVG).
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Bieber had a 4.55 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 20 games as a rookie in 2018, but has made a name for himself with a hot start to 2019. Bieber ranks third in the AL in ERA (1.71) and second in WHIP (0.81) while holding opposing hitters to a .433 OPS. He held the hot-hitting Mariners to one run on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts on Tuesday. Bieber has 22 strikeouts in 21 innings of work and has surrendered just one home run.
This is a pretty even pitching matchup tonight with these two young guns, but I’m afraid to take the under seeing how the bullpens pitched in Saturday’s double-header. Atlanta definitely comes in with momentum after their ninth inning comeback last night, and I say they keep it going here.
Bobby Babowski has 2 free predictions on his Free MLB Picks page for Sunday. He is 38-28 on the season after a perfect 3-0 on Saturday.
Pick: Braves +117
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BETTING TRENDS:
Braves are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Braves are 7-2 in their last 9 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Braves are 21-8 in their last 29 Sunday games.
Braves are 5-2 in their last 7 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Braves are 18-37 in their last 55 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Braves are 2-5 in their last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Braves are 12-30 in their last 42 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Braves are 3-8 in their last 11 road games.
Braves are 3-8 in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Braves are 6-17 in their last 23 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Braves are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
Braves are 1-4 in their last 5 games on grass.
Braves are 1-5 in their last 6 interleague games.
Braves are 1-5 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Braves are 4-0 in Fried’s last 4 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Braves are 5-1 in Fried’s last 6 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Braves are 4-1 in Fried’s last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Indians are 7-0 in their last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Indians are 5-1 in their last 6 interleague games.
Indians are 5-1 in their last 6 home games.
Indians are 5-1 in their last 6 interleague home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Indians are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. National League East.
Indians are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
Indians are 4-1 in their last 5 games on grass.
Indians are 5-2 in their last 7 games following a loss.
Indians are 62-26 in their last 88 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Indians are 44-20 in their last 64 during game 3 of a series.
Indians are 6-13 in their last 19 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Indians are 3-9 in their last 12 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Indians are 2-6 in their last 8 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Indians are 4-0 in Bieber’s last 4 starts.
Indians are 4-0 in Bieber’s last 4 starts on grass.
Indians are 4-0 in Bieber’s last 4 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Indians are 7-1 in Bieber’s last 8 starts with 4 days of rest.
Indians are 6-1 in Bieber’s last 7 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Indians are 5-1 in Bieber’s last 6 starts during game 3 of a series.
Indians are 4-1 in Bieber’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Indians are 4-1 in Bieber’s last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Indians are 4-1 in Bieber’s last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-1 in Braves last 7 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-1 in Braves last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 4-1 in Braves last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 22-6 in Braves last 28 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 7-2 in Braves last 9 interleague road games.
Over is 22-7-2 in Braves last 31 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 3-1-1 in Braves last 5 games following a win.
Over is 21-8-1 in Braves last 30 interleague games.
Over is 5-2 in Braves last 7 road games.
Over is 5-2 in Braves last 7 on grass.
Over is 5-2 in Braves last 7 overall.
Over is 5-2 in Braves last 7 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 7-3 in Braves last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-1 in Fried’s last 5 road starts.
Over is 4-1 in Fried’s last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Fried’s last 7 starts on grass.
Over is 5-2 in Fried’s last 7 starts overall.
Under is 4-0-1 in Indians last 5 interleague games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 6-0 in Indians last 6 vs. National League East.
Over is 15-3-4 in Indians last 22 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 4-1 in Indians last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 4-1 in Indians last 5 interleague games.
Over is 6-2 in Indians last 8 interleague home games.
Over is 6-2 in Indians last 8 during game 3 of a series.
Over is 5-2 in Indians last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Under is 5-2 in Indians last 7 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Indians last 7 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1-1 in Bieber’s last 7 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in Bieber’s last 6 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1-1 in Bieber’s last 6 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Bieber’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Over is 4-1 in Bieber’s last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 7-3-2 in Bieber’s last 12 starts on grass.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Braves are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings.
