Braves plus $1.27 hosting Giants
I’m not nominating the Braves to be a sudden playoff contender. I fully realize they are one of the worst teams in baseball. Adonis Garcia is their current clean-up hitter. That says enough about their 29th-ranked offense.
But a correction is due. The Braves’ pitching is better than a 15-35 team and Atlanta has won three of its last four home games.
Atlanta beat San Francisco and Jeff Samardzija on Monday. The Braves are in good position to pull another upset today with a stronger pitching matchup going.
It’s Jake Peavy versus Matt Wisler. Peavy turns 35 today. He has been pitching in the big leagues for 15 years. The Braves are starting Matt Wisler, who is beginning to live up to his vast potential. He has pitched much better than Peavy this season. So this line is inflated based on Peavy’s past reputation and Wisler being below-the-radar.
Peavy is close to the end of his career. He’s 0-4 with a 7.57 ERA in his last six starts. He’s been at his worst on the road where he’s 0-3 with a 10.00 ERA. San Francisco is 1-4 in Peavy’s last five away starts.
Wisler, on the other hand, has a 2.25 ERA in 36 innings this month holding foes to a .212 batting average during this span. Denard Span is the only Giant who has ever faced Wisler. So Wisler has the element of surprise on his side.
The Giants could be down two starters, too. Outfielder Angel Pagan already is out and third baseman Matt Duffy left yesterday’s game after being hit by a pitch.
