Mets vs Braves | Predictions

New York Mets vs Atlanta Braves
7:10 PM Tuesday August 3 – MLBN
Click Here for more FREE Expert MLB Picks

Pitching Probables: R.A. Dickey vs Derek Lowe

Yesterday’s game played out pretty much as expected but things can be unpredictable with a knuckleballer on the hill. In his last start R.A. Dickey baffled the Cardinals, throwing eight shutout innings. However, in his last start against the Braves he wasn’t fooling anybody and was touched for nine hits and four runs in only six innings. Such is the mystery of the knuckleball. What isn’t a mystery is the Mets offense. It can no longer be considered as underperforming…it is just plain bad. The only player in the lineup to fear is David Wright so the Mets are trying to manufacture runs whenever possible with their speed – they are fourth in stolen bases. The Mets are 7.5 games out and will fall under .500 with a loss. If that isn’t motivation for this team I don’t know what is.

Braves answer R.A. Dickey’s unpredictability with one of the most consistent pitchers in the game, Derek Lowe. Lowe, with his patented sinker, almost always keeps his team in the game. He hasn’t give up more than four runs in a game for nine straight starts. Included in that run was the losing end of 3-0 shutout against the Mets three weeks ago. That game was in New York and Lowe is showing a great preference for home cooking this year as the Braves are 7-3 when he starts at home. Despite his overall solid numbers he has been letting the team down in the games that matter most. The Braves are a shocking 1-8 when Lowe starts against a division rival including 0-2 against the Mets. Both games were quality starts so he might be due for a victory.

The odds makers have the Atlanta Braves as -1½ point favorite with a run total of 7½.

Prediction: Atlanta should build upon last night’s series opener win with another one, possibly knocking the Mets out for the year.

Score Prediction:
Atlanta Braves – 6
New York Mets – 5

Click Here for more FREE Expert MLB Picks

New York Mets Betting Trends:

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Mets’s last 7 games
• NY Mets are 6-16 SU in its last 22 games
• NY Mets are 1-7 SU in its last 8 games on the road
• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of NY Mets’s last 7 games on the road

Atlanta Braves Betting Trends:

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Atlanta’s last 7 games
• Atlanta is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Atlanta’s last 7 games at home
• Atlanta is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing NY Mets