Braves pull off MLB betting sweep of the Cubs behind Hanson

The Atlanta Braves will look to pull off the MLB betting sweep when they welcome in the Chicago Cubs to Turner Field for the finale of the National League rivals three-game series.

Manager Lou Piniella’s squad looked primed and ready to secure its first baseball betting win of the season through seven-innings of play, but reliever LHP John Grabow gave up a two-run bomb in the bottom of the 8th to squander an excellent showing from RHP Ryan Dempster.

The Cubs went quietly into the night in the top of the 9th inning, allowing Atlanta backers to cash a ticket they all but chalked up as a loss for the majority of the game.

The defeat dropped the Cubs to 1-4 SU their L/5 trips to Atlanta, while the Braves moved to a perfect 6-0 SU against the L/6 NL Central opponents they faced.

Chicago Cubs (0-2, -$200) vs. Atlanta Braves (2-0, +$200)

Game Date/Time: Thursday, April 8th, 7:10 ET
Game Location: Turner Field, Atlanta, GA
TV Broadcast: Comcast (Chicago), Peachtree TV, XM Radio

MLB Baseball Odds:

Chicago Cubs +1’ -130 +160
(Randy Wells – R)

Atlanta Braves -1’ +110 -190
(Tommy Hanson – R)

Total: 8 O -105 8 U -115

It will now be up to second year starter Randy Wells to help the Cubs avoid the sweep to start the season.

The youngster was one of the few bright spots in the Cubs starting rotation a season ago. The converted catcher went 12-10 with a 3.05 ERA & 1.28 WHIP with a K/BB ratio of 104/46 through 165.1 total innings of work.

He led NL rookies in starts and finished second in wins and innings pitched. He was the first Cubs rookie to notch a double-digit win output since Kerry Wood pulled off the feat back in 1998.

Chicago split his pair of starts against the Braves last season winning 4-2 at home and falling 6-5 at Turner Field. All in all, Wells allowed just three earned runs and nine hits with eight K’s and no walks combined in the two outings.

Tommy Hanson more than lived up to the hype a year ago. After getting shellacked in his debut against the Milwaukee Brewers, the multiple pitch specialist went on to post a ridiculous 2.59 ERA in his final 20 starts.

Overall, he went 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA & 1.18 WHIP allowing just 105 hits through 127.2 total innings of work. He was simply brilliant after the All Star break recording 91 K’s and walking only 26 through 86+ total innings of work.

This will be his first career look at the Chicago Cubs.

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MLB Baseball Insider Tip: The season couldn’t have started any worse for the Cubbies. They already saw their ace, Carlos Zambrano, get shellacked in the first game of this series, and then the bullpen, namely John Grabow, served last night’s game up on a silver platter.

Now they have to look at what many perceive to be the Braves ace though he’s pitching out of the #3 slot. Not a good omen for Lou and the boys; not whatsoever!

Randy Wells pitched tremendously a year ago. His offense and bullpen cost him a number of games. That however is the norm in Chicago as the bullpen is scary at best, and the offense still looks to be living and dying with the long ball. It doesn’t set the table for its power hitters, and it’s a station to station unit. I expect his tough luck losing ways to continue in this spot.

Atlanta’s offense looks to have all the makings of what could be a scary good unit provided it stays relatively healthy throughout the season.

With Atlanta 8-3 in Hanson’s 11 home starts and 11-5 when he’s favored, look for the Cubs to fall to 1-5 in Wells’ L/6 MLB betting road starts. The chalk’s lofty for a reason; Braves sweep!

My MLB Prediction: Atlanta (Hanson)