For the second time this season, the Pirates (and their opponent) used the bullpen pixie dust to keep our under spinning its legs.
Matt Adams hit his first homer as a Brave on Monday to make it 5-1 in the fifth. The Pirates came back and scored in the sixth, 5-2, with runners on first and third and nobody out. Then Jason fuckin’ Motte came into the game.
He put out the fire. Last time it was Wade LeBlanc and some other guy; this time, guys like Marinez and Vizcaino started doing work. Seven different relievers got the last 21 outs without giving up a run and I didn’t watch a pitch of it. Change the channel before it’s over, just don’t tear up the ticket. Glory.
The heroic effort preserved our under and gave us a chance to finish this month strong, maybe even in the black after a losing April. We’re still just 2-3 this month but 2-3 feels a whole lot better than 1-4. Thursday:
Free Pick
Since Atlanta’s win on Monday, the two teams have split the middle games, pushing the total over in both.
Atlanta’s offense has been steady, contributions all around. Brandon Phillips looks revitalized, hitting over .300 and pacing close to what would be his first 40-walk season since 2011. Brandon Phillips is a 15-year veteran!
Pittsburgh busted out in the 10th last night, capped by Freese, Jose Osuna and Mercer going back to back to back, which must be one of the better trios, by names, to ever do that and that might be something I really need to look into.
I have this one ‘capped somewhere between 8.0 and 8.5; I’d list it at 8-oh with juice on the over. As it stands, it’s 9.0 in Vegas, all over the internet and with the guy over by the dart board. The question is whether or not to cut Bartolo Colon out of the deal.
A man who has entered high positional status.
Betting on Bart isn’t anything more than fading the offense. The Pirates aren’t great at scoring runs but they’ve had it going for two games, at least. The best argument for going with the team total is that Ivan Nova is upperclass.
Which he is. He gave up more hits than he usual his last time out, and the time before that, but the Pirates won each time. Nova’s numbers will tell you he gets hit in losses. They’ll also tell you he gets hit in wins when he gets early runs.
What we want is a low-scoring game on both sides; so perhaps we take the 9.0 because we depend on Colon, even on the team total. If Bart serves it up early, Nova will prioritize outs.
The thing is, he’s still pretty good when he does. And if he gives up four in six innings, the Bucs’ bullpen a chance, which is all I can really ask for.
Free Pick: Braves TT U4.5 (-115)
Atlanta Braves • bartolo colon • National League • pittsburgh pirates