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Atlanta Braves at Arizona Diamondbacks

Friday, 9:40 pm Eastern – TBS

Opening Line: Diamondbacks -128, Total 9.5 flat

Two teams fighting for playoff spots in the National League begin a three game series on Friday as the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Atlanta Braves.  Both teams are very much in their divisional races and part of the Wild Card race.  The Braves go with Jo-Jo Reyes on Friday while Yusmeiro Petit goes for Arizona.
 

Reyes was unable to pick up his first Major League win in his third career start on Sunday against the Cardinals even though he left with a 2-1 lead.  The Diamondbacks pitcher Yusmeiro Petit was great Sunday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out five. Petit took Randy Johnson's spot in the rotation when Johnson went on the DL and the Diamondbacks may end being better off with Petit.

The Diamondbacks are -125 favorites with a total of 9.5 Over (-115).
  

The Braves hope to have Chipper Jones back in the lineup on Friday.  Jones was held out of Thursday’s starting lineup because of minor right groin discomfort. "It's not serious," Jones said. "I just don't want it to get any worse." Jones entered Thursday with a National League-best .346 batting average and hopes to play on Friday. Also out of the lineup on Thursday was shortstop Edgar Renteria who is hitting a sparkling.419 (26-for-62) since the all-star break. His .335 batting average ranks fourth in the NL.

Arizona comes into the game on Friday very much a part of the playoff race and may be making some moves before the trading deadline next week.  "I would say quite a bit of conversation going on," General manager Josh Byrnes said, "Hearing things out there that might be going on that really don't involve us. As it pertains to us it's hard to predict a deal that's imminent." Byrnes said the Diamondbacks won’t give up top prospects. "We're definitely not a seller," he said. "The degree to which we just slice out a piece of the future for the short term is a fair question. Any trade now either helps '07 and or also has some long term benefit to us. If we get a pitcher back who had some long term value to us we'd definitely consider that,"

Here were the betting statistics heading into Thursday’s action.  The Braves are 5-0 in their last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter. The Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 games as a road underdog. The Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 games as an underdog. The Braves are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. the National League West. The Braves are 6-2 in their last 8 road games. The Braves are 9-4 in their last 13 Friday games. The Braves are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings between the two teams.

The Diamondbacks are 5-0 in their last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.

The Diamondbacks are 5-0 in their last 5 overall. The Diamondbacks are 5-1 in their last 6 home games. The Diamondbacks are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter. The Diamondbacks are 16-5 in their last 21 vs. the National League East. The Diamondbacks are 11-4 in their last 15 games as a home favorite.

The Over is 4-0 in the Braves last 4 games as a road underdog. The Over is 4-0 in the Braves last 4 games as an underdog. The Over is 4-0 in the Braves last 4 vs. a team with a winning record. The Over is 11-3 in the Braves last 14 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Over is 21-6-1 in the Braves last 28 road games vs. a right-handed starter. The Over is 10-3 in the Braves last 13 road games. The Over is 6-2-1 in the Braves last 9 Friday games. The Over is 18-6 in the Braves last 24 overall. The Over is 5-2 in the Braves last 7 vs. the National League West.