Don’t look now, but the Atlanta Braves only sit 5-games in back of the NL East leading New York Mets for bragging rights. It was only three weeks ago that Brian Snitker’s troops were staring at a double-digit deficit in the standings! That’s what happens when you rattle off a 13-game win streak to decisively throw your hat back in the ring. It’s certainly within the realm of possibility that it kicks this series off with the San Francisco Giants riding that win streak with the Chicago Cubs on the docket through the weekend. It will however be put to the test versus a gritty Giants squad that’s seemingly bounced back from that late-May swoon by cashing tickets at online sportsbooks eight of the last 11 times it stepped between the lines. I’m not bullish on the team’s prospects for this one however should left-hander Sam Long get the starting nod. Atlanta’s throttled south paws all season, and Long’s arsenal leaves much to be desired. On top of that, Spencer Strider is a young arm most baseball pundits have been waiting for to explode onto the scene; he’s done just that since being pulled out of the bullpen at the end of May.
First pitch for the NL matchup between the San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves is scheduled for Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Take it in live on TBS at 7:20 p.m. ET from Truist Park. Bet on MLB odds and player props at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
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Odds Analysis
Since dropping two of three at home to the Colorado Rockies, San Fran has rattled off five straight wins and will be gunning for a series sweep of the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night before packing their bags for a weekend set in Pittsburgh against a Pirates team in the midst of a prolonged losing streak. Atlanta might not be the only team amidst a win streak come Monday’s series opener! After making money hand over first for MLB bettors a season ago, the Giants only just recently got back into the black this week. They’re 35-26 overall $209, and have done their best work on the road where they’ve won 16 of 29 played games $69. Though it currently sits nine-games over .500 for the year, Atlanta is still in the red for baseball bettors due to getting out to such a horrid start defending their World Series title. The deficit clocks in at -$216 overall with a bulk of it coming at home -226 where it stands 20-14 overall.
Probable Pitchers
Sam Long L: The south paw was thrust back into San Francisco’s starting rotation early last week due to Jacob Junis going on the shelf. He was nothing to write home about in his first three starts as an opener back in late April, and that remained the case in his three innings thrown at the Dodgers back on June 11. Though it’s not set in stone that he makes this start, it seemed likely at the time of this writing with him opening against the Royals on Wednesday. The kid doesn’t have nasty stuff evidenced by his 5.4 K/9 average. He’s also conceding 5.9 hits per nine and is only throwing three inning max every time he opens. With the Braves bashing lefties for a league-best 6.2 runs per game, you don’t want any shares of this kid come Tuesday night.
Spencer Strider R: Though the righty has failed to log a quality effort in any of his first three starts, he’s given us some glimpses of some potential greatness. Since getting lit up for five runs 3 ER in his starting debut against the D’backs back on May 30, he’s gone on to toss 9.2 innings of 1 ER ball at the Rockies and Pirates in his last two starts. More importantly, he racked up a 13:6 K/BB ratio in those outings and only issued one free pass in his most recent start. His 13.4 K/9 is simply something that can’t be ignored! If he rings up another big tally against a Nats team amongst the best in the league at not striking out, I’ll have no issue betting the over of his K prop against a Giants offense that only strikes out 25 percent of the time against righties.
Giants vs. Braves Prediction
Then only issue I’ve got blindly backing Atlanta and its young superstar is Strider’s propensity to put men on base via the walk. While his fastball/slider combo is sure to give the Giants headaches, it won’t be as nasty if he’s routinely putting men on base due to his 4.5 BB/9 average. As such, I’m leaning towards investing on the over for this game instead of a side both for the first five innings as well as the full game. I fully expect Ronald Acuna Jr. and Co. to get to Long early on, but the same could occur if Strider can’t keep his control in check. Should this game be competitive in the mid to late innings, I’d take a live bet flier on the Braves who own the much better bullpen by far.
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