Free Pick | MLB | Monday | Aug. 12

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#960 San Francisco Giants (Snell) -105 over Atlanta Braves (Sale) 8:45 PM CT

While San Diego and Arizona have made headlines making charges in the NL West, the Giants are back in the wild card race with a 12-4 run since July 26. The schedule has been favorable but this is a great opportunity to take advantage of a four-game set with Atlanta, one of the teams San Francisco will need to pace to make the playoffs. Atlanta was one of the World Series favorites to start the season but this team continues to disappoint, particularly with the pitching staff. While pitching in Colorado is difficult for everyone, the Braves enter this series having allowed an absurd total of 73 runs in 10 games so far while going 3-7 in August. Atlanta is just 7-14 in the past 21 games and while it has been a great comeback season for Chris Sale as a Cy Young contender, his recent results have soured a bit having allowed seven runs and 17 hits in his last three starts. Blake Snell has a 4.31 ERA but a 3.11 FIP this season and with an 11.5 K/9, he remains a top option on the mound. Snell threw an early August no-hitter and he has allowed just five combined runs in his last five starts spanning 34 innings. The Giants have hit .281 with seven runs per nine vs. lefties in the past 10 games and the recent bullpen splits greatly favor the Giants with a 2.01 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in the past 10 games. In contrast Atlanta owns a 6.98 bullpen ERA with a 1.98 WHIP in that span and yesterday’s six-inning starting effort was the first such outing since August 2 for the Braves.

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