MLB Betting – After Tough Loss, Atlanta Set to Rebound

After a tough loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night, Atlanta looks to rebound when they send pitcher Kris Medlen to the mound. Medlen and the Braves are favorites in the MLB sportsbook even though they’ve lost 3 out of their last 4 games.

Medlen’s overall numbers are exceptionally good. He’s 3 and 1 with a 2.79 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. He’s won his last 2 games and has given up 15 hits and only 6 runs in his last 13.1 innings pitched.

Usually, Medlen would be a much bigger favorite over D’Back’s pitcher Edwin Jackson, but Jackson is coming off of two stellar efforts. Even though Jackson’s overall numbers don’t inspire confidence, 3 and 6 with a 5.33 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP, he’s given up only 3 runs and 7 hits in his last 16 innings pitched. It’s too bad that Jackson’s teammates failed to give him run support in both games, a 5 to 0 Arizona loss to San Francisco and a 1 to 0 Arizona loss to the L.A. Dodgers.

Will the D’Backs finally back up Jackson’s terrific efforts with some runs?

Atlanta Braves vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

Where: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ

When: June 8th, 2010 at 9:40 pm EST

TV: Atlanta – SPSO
Arizona – FS-A

Radio: Atlanta – None
Arizona – KTAR 620 and KSUN 1400

MLB Betting Odds

Atlanta Braves
Kris Medlen – R -115

Arizona Diamondbacks
Edwin Jackson – R -105

The baseball betting trends favor the Braves but not by much.

The Atlanta Braves are 6 and 1 in their last 7 games as the favorites on the road.

The Atlanta Braves are 4 and 1 in Kris Medlen’s last 5 starts.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are 8 and 2 in their last 10 games at home versus a team with a winning record.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are 2 and 8 in Edwin Jackson’s last 10 starts.

Atlanta received some good news late Monday night and early this morning. Chipper Jones, the Braves 6-time All Star, should return to the lineup on Tuesday night. That’s excellent news for he Braves because the man who replaced Chipper in the 3rd spot in the lineup is 2 for 21 with 10 strikeouts the past 5 games.

With Chipper back in the lineup, and Medlen still pitching well, the onus is on the D’Backs and Edwin Jackson to turn around their recent bad performances. For some reason, the D’Backs’ batters don’t respond to Jackson very well. He pitched as well as he has all season long the last time he was on the mound, 9 innings, 3 hits and 0 runs, but he still became a non-factor because the D’Backs couldn’t score any runs.

They scored 7 on the Braves on Monday night, though, and to me, that’s the deciding factor. I believe that Jackson pitches exceptionally well again, but this time the D’Backs come through with some runs for him.

Medlen is going to have a good game as well and Chipper Jones might help the Braves’ cause, but Arizona has been hot lately, winning 3 out of their last 4 games, while the Braves have suddenly cooled off going 1 and 3 in their last 4 games.

I’ll make a baseball bet on the hot team in this matchup. I like the D’Backs to make it two in a row against the Braves with Jackson pitching another gem and, finally, Arizona’s hitters coming to life for him.

MLB Sportsbook Bet: Arizona Diamondbacks -105