The Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees share the spotlight Wednesday night with game two of their series on ESPN. Two struggling pitchers get the call as Atlanta right-hander Ian Anderson (0-0, 4.70) faces right-hander Corey Kluber (0-1, 6.10).
The Yankees snapped a five-game losing streak by winning Tuesday’s contest 3-1. They scored two runs in the eighth inning, one on a wild pitch and the other on a bases-loaded walk. The teams combined for just 11 hits while Atlanta batters struck out 10 times.
Braves Pitching Letting Them Down
Atlanta is off to a 7-10 start this season and they have lost six of the last nine. Pitching has been their downfall so far as Atlanta ranks 13th in the National League in ERA (4.85), 10th in walks issued, 14th in hits allowed, and 11th in home runs allowed.
The offense has done its job, but now face time without superstar outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. The Braves lead the N.L. with 25 homers in 17 games, rank fourth in runs scored and third in total bases.
Acuña ranks among MLB leaders in average (.419), slugging (.887), home runs (7), hits (26), runs (21), and RBI (16) but suffered an abdominal strain while sliding on Sunday night. He didn’t play Tuesday and is not expected to play again until the weekend.
Reigning MVP Freddie Freeman has five homers and 10 RBI in 17 games but is batting just .233. Marcell Ozuna has one homer with a .219 average, while Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson are both batting under .200.
Anderson walked four against the Marlins last Thursday as he allowed three runs on six hits over five innings in a no-decision. He has gone at least five innings in all three starts this year but has allowed 15 hits in 15 innings with three homers allowed. Current Yankees have 14 career at-bats against Anderson without any hits.
Yankees Struggling Across the Board
The Yankees are in last place at 6-10 so far this season. They are last in the American League in batting average (.208) and slugging (.344) while ranking 12th in home runs (17) and 14th in runs scored (58).
Their stars are really struggling in the first two weeks of the season. Giancarlo Stanton is batting .170, while Gary Sanchez is at .214, and Gleyber Torres is at .182. Only DJ LeMahieu and Gio Urshela are batting over .260, while first baseman Jay Bruce retired over the weekend.
Kluber gave up three runs on six hits over four innings against the Toronto Blue Jays in his last start, tossing 77 pitches. He has yet to go past four innings in three starts this season while allowing 16 hits and three homers over 10 ⅓ innings. Due to injuries, Kluber threw just 35 innings in 2019 and one inning in 2020.
He has only faced four Braves hitters in more than one at-bat, and none of those four have more than one hit. Freddie Freeman is 0-for-5 in his career against Kluber.
Betting Analysis
The Yankees are favored in Wednesday’s game at -130 with a -1.5 run line (+145). The Braves are +105 on the money line with a +1.5 run line at +175. The run total is 8.5.
Neither starting pitcher has been great, and both have been susceptible to the long ball and the walk this year. That combination could lead to some big innings and runs going on the board in a hurry. Plus, the Yankees are likely to head to the bullpen early.
Free Pick: Atlanta Braves to Win (+105), Over 8.5 runs (-105).
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