By: Willie Bee
WashingtonAtlanta . The Braves fell behind early only to claw their way back into it, but couldn't get that one extra hit to push into the winner's circle. Now they are faced with trying to stop a 3-game skid against one of the game's top young hurlers.
Atlanta has split its four decisions vs. Strasburg this year and knocked the righthander around to the tune of a 4.87 ERA over 20.1 innings. Strasburg has also been a little easier to get to in DC where his ERA (3.47) is a little more than a run higher than away from home (2.45). But it's going to require a little better hitting with runners ready to come plateward than the 2-for-12 effort the Braves put forth on Monday.
Paul Maholm spent over six seasons in relative obscurity pitching for the Pirates. He seemed to pick the wrong time to bolt from the Pirates to sign with the Cubs, but was given a reprieve when the Atlanta Braves traded for him in late July.
He'll get a shot to show he was worth that swap Tuesday when he takes the mound inWashington to face the Nationals and their young ace Stephen Strasburg. The Nats opened as -160 to -165 favorites on the MLB odds board, and they remain there after overnight action. Seven is the total for Game 2 in this all-important series, and the pricing is pretty well split high and low.
Washington
Bettors have put cash in their pockets eight of the last nine times Maholm has taken the mound, dating back to before he was dealt from Chicago to Atlanta . The southpaw is 2-1 in three starts since joining the Braves, and has personally pocketed the dubya in each of his last three road assignments.
The extended action on Monday meant both clubs utilized their bullpens, and that could affect decisions from Nats manager Davey Johnson a little more than Atlanta 's Fredi Gonzalez on Tuesday. We already know that Johnson is likely going to limit Strasburg to six innings because of the workload limit Washington management has planned for their star hurler this season. The Nats have sent Tyler Clippard and Craig Stammen, two of their top relievers, to the mound each of the past two games, and in Stammen's case for multiple innings.
I'm going to come right back with the underdog once again in Game 2 of this set, and make my play in the Atlanta Braves.
My pick: Braves +150
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