Atlanta Braves vs. Cleveland Indians Pick 4/19/19

Atlanta Braves vs. Cleveland Indians Pick 4/19/19

Darin Zank
Date: April 19, 7:10 pm
Location: Progressive Field
TV: SportsTime Ohio

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Indians -155/Braves +145
Total: 7.5

<p>
The Cleveland Indians own a three-game winning streak while the Atlanta Braves own a three-game losing streak heading into the opener of their three-game interleague series Friday night. Which way are we going with our free MLB pick for Friday?
</p>
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<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
</h2>
<p>
Friday's MLB betting odds opened Cleveland and Kluber at around -145 over Atlanta and Toussaint, with an over/under of 7.5 runs. Early betting action then bumped that line about a dime, to around -155.
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<p>
The Tribe could also be found getting around +135 giving the run and a half on the MLB run line.
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<h2>
Braves vs. Indians Set-Up<br />
</h2>
<p>
Atlanta just got swept three games at home by Arizona by scores of 9-6, 3-2 and Thursday 4-1.
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<p>
So the Braves are just 2-5 over their last seven games.
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<p>
At 9-9 overall Atlanta trails first-place Philadelphia by two games in the NL East.
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<p>
Cleveland, meanwhile, just swept three games from the Mariners in Seattle by scores of 6-4, 4-2 and Wednesday 1-0. The Indians then had Thursday off.
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<p>
So Cleveland owns a three-game winning streak, right after losing three in a row last weekend in Kansas City.
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<p>
At 11-7 overall the Tribe leads the AL Central by a game over second-place Minnesota.
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<p>
These teams last met back in 2016 when the Indians swept three games from the Braves in Atlanta. Kluber picked up the win in one of those games.
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<h2>
Friday's Starting Arms<br />
</h2>
<p>
Kluber is 2/4 on quality starts this season, doing the Jekyll-and-Hyde thing. Three starts ago he gave up six runs – four earned – in less than four innings against the White Sox; then he held Detroit to one ER in six innings, but last Sunday he gave up six runs in less than three innings against the Royals. For the season Kluber has allowed 13 ER and 25 hits, with 10 walks, through 19 innings.
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<p>
Cleveland is just 1-3 with Kluber this season.
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<p>
This will be Kluber's first start against Atlanta since that 2016 series.
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<p>
Fellow righty Toussaint began this season in the Minors but made good on his first appearance with the Big Club last Saturday, holding the Mets to one unearned run and four hits through six innings of relief, with seven strikeouts, in a game Atlanta eventually won 11-7.
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<p>
Last season, during a late call-up, Toussaint finished 1/5 on quality starts, but that's a bit misleading because three times he came within three outs of a QS but got pulled. The Braves finished 4-1 in Toussaint's starts last year.
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<p>
This will be Toussaint's first-ever start against the Indians, which could give him an edge, at least for the first couple of times through the lineup.
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<h2>
Friday's Batting Splits<br />
</h2>
<p>
Atlanta is batting .249/.351/.410 against right-handed pitching this season.
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<p>
Cleveland is batting just .196/.277/.325 against RH pitching this season.
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<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
</h2>
<p>
Following a lousy performance in the just-completed series against the Diamondbacks the Atlanta bullpen now owns a 5.13 ERA, a 1.58 WHIP and a 73/40 strikeouts/walks ratio this season.
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<p>
The Indians bullpen owns a 2.68 ERA, a 1.14 and a 58/20 K/BB ratio.
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<h2>
Totals Report<br />
</h2>
<ul>
<li>
The unders are 9-8-1 in Braves games this season.
</li>
<li>
The unders are 10-8 in Tribe games this season.
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<li>
The overs are 3-1 in Kluber's starts this season.
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<li>
The totals are split 3-3 in games played at Progressive Field this season.
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</ul>
<p><section></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1074623<br />
">Atlanta Braves at Cleveland Indians MLB Match-Up Stats </a> </span>
</li>
</ul>
<p></section></p>

Braves vs Indians Prediction 04/19/2019

Kluber will probably, eventually get his act together this season but the line and movement on this game is perhaps based more on name recognition than potential performance. And while Cleveland owns the edge in bullpen comparison, Atlanta owns the edge in the splits with the sticks. We're betting value here with the Braves.

Free Pick: Take the Braves +145
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