Arizona (51-43) at Atlanta (51-40)
When: Friday, July 13th 2018
Where: SunTrust Park, Cumberland, GA
Time: 7:35 ET | TV: FS Arizona, FS South
Opening Odds: Atlanta -125/9
Two teams looking to gather some momentum heading into the All-Star Break will square-off in a three-game series as the Atlanta Braves host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. Arizona’s bullpen was hit hard this week in Coors Field, giving up 14 runs on Wednesday and three late runs Thursday in a 5-1 setback to the Colorado Rockies. The back-to-back losses dropped the Diamondbacks into a first-place tie with Los Angeles prior to the Dodgers game late Thursday night in San Diego. Arizona is getting more production out of their All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who has raised his average .198 to .284 over the past 44 games. Atlanta has a red-hot hitter of their own in rookie second baseman Ozzie Albies, who is hitting .418 with four homers and 20 runs scored in his past 20 games, raising his average to .288. Albies recorded two homers and four RBIs in Wednesday’s 7-5 victory over the Blue Jays, but have still dropped 11 of their last 19 overall. The home runs snapped Atlanta’s season-long five-game homerless streak. The two teams met in Atlanta in the first series after the All-Star break last season as the Braves swept the three-game set while outscoring Arizona 19-9.
Pitchers: Diamondbacks – Zack Godley (10-6, 4.80 ERA) | Braves – Anibal Sanchez (4-2, 2.72)
Zack Godley will get the call for Arizona three days after he threw a scoreless 15th inning in Sunday’s 4-3, 16-inning loss to San Diego. Godley has been suffering with control issues this season, walking 52 and allowing 12 homers over 99.1 innings. Last year, he totaled 53 walks and allowed 15 homers across 155 innings. Godley is 0-1 in two career starts against Atlanta with 13 earned runs allowed in 11 innings.
Veteran righty Anibal Sanchez has resurrected his career in Atlanta and been a pleasant surprise for them. He has limited opponents to two earned runs or less in seven of his 10 starts, giving up one run on two hits with one walk and eight strikeouts Saturday in a 5-1 victory at Milwaukee. Sanchez is 4-1 with a 4.47 ERA in eight career games against the Diamondbacks.
I have to give the edge to Atlanta in this one even though I’ve never liked Sanchez. He’s been really good thus far and seems to have found a home in Atlanta. Arizona’s bullpen is beat-up and may get some more work Friday with Godley on the mound.
Pick: Braves -140
BETTING TRENDS:
- Diamondbacks are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Diamondbacks are 6-1 in their last 7 Friday games.
- Diamondbacks are 12-3 in their last 15 road games.
- Diamondbacks are 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Diamondbacks are 9-3 in their last 12 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Diamondbacks are 8-3 in their last 11 vs. National League East.
- Diamondbacks are 7-21 in their last 28 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Diamondbacks are 1-4 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
- Diamondbacks are 5-1 in Godley’s last 6 starts.
- Diamondbacks are 5-1 in Godley’s last 6 starts on grass.
- Diamondbacks are 10-4 in Godley’s last 14 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Diamondbacks are 5-2 in Godley’s last 7 Friday starts.
- Diamondbacks are 0-4 in Godley’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Braves are 6-1 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Braves are 5-1 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Braves are 12-5 in their last 17 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Braves are 2-5 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Braves are 2-6 in their last 8 overall.
- Braves are 2-6 in their last 8 games on grass.
- Braves are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Braves are 2-10 in their last 12 Friday games.
- Braves are 5-0 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Braves are 7-1 in Sanchez’s last 8 starts on grass.
- Braves are 7-2 in Sanchez’s last 9 starts.
- Over is 11-2-1 in Diamondbacks last 14 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 4-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Diamondbacks last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Diamondbacks last 6 vs. National League East.
- Over is 4-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 road games.
- Over is 8-3-2 in Diamondbacks last 13 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 5-0-1 in Godley’s last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 4-1 in Godley’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Godley’s last 5 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Godley’s last 5 starts on grass.
- Over is 6-2-1 in Godley’s last 9 road starts.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Godley’s last 5 starts overall.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Godley’s last 5 starts vs. National League East.
- Under is 4-0 in Braves last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 6-1 in Braves last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 4-1 in Braves last 5 Friday games.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Braves last 5 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Braves last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Braves last 8 home games.
- Over is 5-2 in Braves last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Over is 5-2 in Braves last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 13-6-1 in Braves last 20 overall.
- Under is 4-0 in Sanchez’s last 4 starts on grass.
- Under is 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts overall.
- Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings in Atlanta.
- Diamondbacks are 8-20 in the last 28 meetings in Atlanta.
- Diamondbacks are 2-5 in the last 7 meetings.
