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MLB
Saturday, April 19
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Game of the Day: Braves at Mets
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Atlanta Braves at New York Mets (+115)
The sample size is small considering Bartolo Colon has pitched 414 games since making his major-league debut in 1997, but the New York Mets right-hander has handled the Atlanta Braves. Colon takes the mound Saturday when the Mets host Atlanta in the second game of a weekend set, bringing a 4-0 career record with a 1.20 ERA in four starts against the Braves. Atlanta counters with Ervin Santana, who has emerged as a linchpin of the Braves’ revamped rotation with dominant outings in his first two appearances.
An encouraging sign for Atlanta – which scored six runs in Friday’s series-opening shutout victory – is the recent play of center fielder B.J. Upton, who is hitting .320 with five runs scored, four walks and three stolen bases in his past six games. The Braves are off to another flying start, winning 11 of their first 16 games after starting last season 12-1. David Wright kept the Mets from being no-hit in Friday, recording a single with two outs in the eighth to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN South (Atlanta), WPIX (New York)
LINE HISTORY: The Mets opened as +115 home dogs against their N.L. East rival.
POWER RANKINGS: Braves (-187.0), Mets (+105.0)
INJURY REPORT: Mets OF Juan Lagares (15-day DL, hamstring), SP Bartolo Colon (Probable Saturday, back). Braves RP Gory Gearrin (15-day DL, elbow)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Ervin Santana (1-0, 0.64 ERA) vs. Mets RH Bartolo Colon (1-2, 6.00)
It would be difficult for Santana to pitch any better in his first two efforts in an Atlanta uniform, and a bullpen meltdown Monday at Philadelphia is the only reason he is not 2-0. Still, Santana has allowed seven hits and one earned run in 14 innings, walking two and striking out 17. The 31-year-old has posted a 0.64 WHIP and is averaging 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings.
Colon dominated the Braves in Atlanta’s home opener April 8, firing seven shutout innings with six hits allowed, no walks and five strikeouts. But he was pounded by the Angels on Sunday, surrendering nine earned runs on 11 hits – including four homers – in five innings. The 40-year-old, who is 10 victories shy of 200 for his career, makes his third career start at Citi Field, where he is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA.
TRENDS:
*Braves are 9-4 in the last 13 meetings in New York.
*Braves are 4-0 in their last 4 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
*Mets are 5-0 in their last 5 games following a loss.
CONSENSUS: 72 percent of backers are taking the Braves, with 54 percent backing the under.
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Saturday, April 19
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Game of the Day: Braves at Mets
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Atlanta Braves at New York Mets (+115)
The sample size is small considering Bartolo Colon has pitched 414 games since making his major-league debut in 1997, but the New York Mets right-hander has handled the Atlanta Braves. Colon takes the mound Saturday when the Mets host Atlanta in the second game of a weekend set, bringing a 4-0 career record with a 1.20 ERA in four starts against the Braves. Atlanta counters with Ervin Santana, who has emerged as a linchpin of the Braves’ revamped rotation with dominant outings in his first two appearances.
An encouraging sign for Atlanta – which scored six runs in Friday’s series-opening shutout victory – is the recent play of center fielder B.J. Upton, who is hitting .320 with five runs scored, four walks and three stolen bases in his past six games. The Braves are off to another flying start, winning 11 of their first 16 games after starting last season 12-1. David Wright kept the Mets from being no-hit in Friday, recording a single with two outs in the eighth to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN South (Atlanta), WPIX (New York)
LINE HISTORY: The Mets opened as +115 home dogs against their N.L. East rival.
POWER RANKINGS: Braves (-187.0), Mets (+105.0)
INJURY REPORT: Mets OF Juan Lagares (15-day DL, hamstring), SP Bartolo Colon (Probable Saturday, back). Braves RP Gory Gearrin (15-day DL, elbow)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Ervin Santana (1-0, 0.64 ERA) vs. Mets RH Bartolo Colon (1-2, 6.00)
It would be difficult for Santana to pitch any better in his first two efforts in an Atlanta uniform, and a bullpen meltdown Monday at Philadelphia is the only reason he is not 2-0. Still, Santana has allowed seven hits and one earned run in 14 innings, walking two and striking out 17. The 31-year-old has posted a 0.64 WHIP and is averaging 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings.
Colon dominated the Braves in Atlanta’s home opener April 8, firing seven shutout innings with six hits allowed, no walks and five strikeouts. But he was pounded by the Angels on Sunday, surrendering nine earned runs on 11 hits – including four homers – in five innings. The 40-year-old, who is 10 victories shy of 200 for his career, makes his third career start at Citi Field, where he is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA.
TRENDS:
*Braves are 9-4 in the last 13 meetings in New York.
*Braves are 4-0 in their last 4 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
*Mets are 5-0 in their last 5 games following a loss.
CONSENSUS: 72 percent of backers are taking the Braves, with 54 percent backing the under.
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