Monday, July 7, 2014, 7:10 PM on SPSO, SNY

Citi Field, Flushing, New York

Atlanta Braves - Minor, M (2-5) vs. New York Mets - Matsuzaka, D (3-3)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Monday night, the Atlanta Braves will give the ball to Mike Minor as they face the New York Mets and Daisuke Matsuzaka. It will be Minor's 13^th start and Matsuzaka's 8^th start and 25^th appearance.

Mike Minor didn't get the decision his last time out and that froze his record at 2 - 5 with a 4.73 ERA. In that outing, Minor surrendered 4 runs on 9 hits (including 2 home runs) in 4.1 innings. He walked a batter while striking out 5. Minor has surrendered home runs in his last 5 starts (13 overall) and that has hurt his stats greatly. In 2013, Minor allowed 23 homers as he posted a 13 - 9 record with an ERA of 3.21 in 32 starts.

Last season, Minor was 1 - 1 with a 3.10 ERA in 3 starts against the Mets. His last start was against New York and he can't repeat that performance if he wants a win.

Daisuke Matsuzaka dropped his 3^rd straight game in his last start and that evened his record at 3 - 3 with a 3.27 ERA. In the loss, Matsuzaka was touched up for 5 runs and 7 hits in 5 innings as he walked 3 and struck out 5. Dice-K has already matched last season's 3 - 3 record with an ERA of 4.42 in 7 starts.

In 2013, Matsuzaka was lit up in his only start against the Braves. He took the loss after giving up 6 runs and 7 hits (including a homer) in just 3 innings. He just took the loss against the Braves in his last start and will have to change some things to avoid the same fate in this start.

Atlanta Braves Betting Trends

Atlanta Braves are 33-49-3 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Atlanta Braves is 0.1

New York Mets Betting Trends

New York Mets are 36-38-11 against the Over/Under

Run differential for New York Mets is -0.1

Injuries to Watch

Atlanta Braves

07/01/14 C Evan Gattis Back 15-day DL (6/29)
06/20/14 P Gavin Floyd Elbow 15-day DL (6/20), out for season
06/20/14 P Pedro Beato Elbow 15-day DL (6/19)
03/29/14 P Brandon Beachy Elbow 60-day DL (3/21), out for season
03/29/14 P Cory Gearrin Elbow 60-day DL (3/26)
03/28/14 P Kris Medlen Elbow 60-day DL (3/21), out for season
03/28/14 P Jonny Venters Elbow 60-day DL (3/21)

New York Mets

06/25/14 C Taylor Teagarden Hamstring 15-day DL (6/22)
05/14/14 P Dillon Gee Side 15-day DL (5/11)
04/01/14 P Bobby Parnell Elbow 15-day DL (4/1), out for season
03/28/14 P Matt Harvey Elbow 60-day DL (3/30), out for season

Guy's Pick: Take New York

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