Arizona Diamondbacks (30-22) +110, o/u 9 at Atlanta Braves (28-25), 7:30 p.m. Eastern, TBS
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
The first-place Arizona Diamondbacks begin the last leg of a 10-game road trip as they take on the Atlanta Braves in the first game of a 4-game set Thursday night at Turner Field.
Arizona is 3-3 so far on this current road trip, and has been able to hang on to first place in the NL West.
Atlanta just dropped 2 of 3 games to the Dodgers, but the Braves have won 16 of their last 23 games and sit in 2nd place in the NL East, 4 ½ games back of the division-leading Mets.
The Diamondbacks are 13-13 on the road this season, and 17-12 as underdogs.
Atlanta is 13-8 at home this year, and 21-12 as favorites.
These teams split 6 games last year. Arizona took 2 of 3 from the Braves in the teams’ first encounter of this season last week in the desert.
Former Brave Juan Cruz (2-3, 4.76) got bombed for 9 ER in less than an inning 2 weeks ago in a start vs. San Diego. But since then, Cruz has allowed just 2 ER in 2 starts (12 IP) vs. Atlanta and Cincinnati.
In that game against the Braves last week, Cruz allowed 2 ER and just 2 hits in 6 IP.
Atlanta left-hander Horacio Ramirez (1-0, 5.40) is making just his 3rd start of this season, and his second after spending 7 weeks on the DL with a hamstring injury. In his first start back at the Cubs last Saturday, Ramirez allowed just 1 ER and 7 hits in 7 innings of work.
Ramirez made one start vs. Arizona last year, giving up 3 ER in 7 IP.
The over/under is 1-5 in Cruz’s starts this season, 1-1 in Ramirez’ starts.
The Diamondbacks own a .343 team OBP, 4th-best in the NL, and average 5.3 RPG (5.1 vs. left-handed pitching).
The Braves own a .336 team OBP, 8th-best in the league, and average 5.4 RPG.
The Arizona bullpen has allowed 11 ER and 25 H+W in its last 16 IP.
The Atlanta bullpen has given up 15 ER and 32 H+W in its last 18 2/3 innings.
The o/u is 25-24 in Diamondbacks games this year, 32-19 in Braves games, and 11-8 at Turner Field.
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The Ultimatecapper Pick: We like the UNDER in this game.
