[bigboydan]

**Braves (Smoltz) at Phillies (Myers)**

–Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Philadelphia as a $1.15 home ‘chalk’ over Atlanta, with the total set at eight ‘over’ (minus $1.30). This National League East contest is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. ET.


–Atlanta’s John Smoltz (1-2, 4.09 ERA) heads to the hill for the first time since Friday’s setback to New York as a home ‘pick,’ 5-2. The veteran right-hander was reached for three runs on eight hits (one home run) with four walks and 10 strikeouts over seven innings.

–The combined seven runs landed directly on the closing total, leaving the ‘over’ at 3-1-1 his five starts.

–Smoltz was 1-2 versus the Phillies last year in three starts, going a combined 19 innings while yielding seven runs on 18 hits (two home runs) with eight walks and 17 strikeouts. The Braves triumphed as a $1.32 road favorite, 9-1, while falling as a $1.08 road ‘chalk,’ 2-1, and as a $1.52 home favorite, 5-1. The ‘under’ was 2-1 during those three games.

–Philadelphia pitcher Brett Myers (2-1, 3.23 ERA) hopes to rebound from Friday’s loss to Pittsburgh as a $1.58 road favorite, 3-1. The 6-foot-4 hurler surrendered three runs on nine hits with three walks and eight strikeouts over seven innings.

–The combined four runs never seriously threatened the nine-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ cash his fifth consecutive start.

–Myers picked up a no-decision against the Braves April 10 after tossing five innings and allowing three runs on seven hits (one home run) with a walk and six strikeouts. The Phillies ended up dropping that affair as a $1.10 road favorite, 5-3. The combined eight runs went ‘under’ the nine-run closing total.

**Cubs (Maddux) at Diamondbacks (Batista)**

–LVSC has Chicago as a $1.35 road favorite over Arizona, with the total listed at nine ‘under’ (minus $1.15). This contest is slated to begin at 9:40 p.m. ET.

–Chicago veteran hurler Greg Maddux (5-0, 1.35 ERA) continued his incredible early season run by beating Milwaukee Friday as a $1.38 home ‘chalk,’ 6-2. The 40-year-old tossed six innings, surrendering both runs on eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

–The combined eight runs slithered ‘over’ the 7 1/2-run closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to occur his second straight start.

–Maddux was 0-2 versus the Diamondbacks last year in two starts, going a combined nine innings while being reached for 11 runs on 14 hits (three home runs) with two walks and seven strikeouts. The Cubs fell as a $1.27 road favorite, 5-4, and as a $1.26 home ‘chalk,’ 13-6.

–Arizona counters with Miguel Batista (2-1, 6.33 ERA), hoping the right-hander can rebound from Friday’s loss to San Francisco as a $1.36 road underdog, 10-2. The Dominican Republic native allowed six runs on 10 hits with two walks and a strikeout over just 4 1/3 innings.

–The combined 12 runs toppled the 8 1/2-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 4-0-1 when he’s pitching.

–Batista, who pitched for Toronto the past few seasons, has not started against the Cubs the last couple years.

**Orioles (Cabrera) at Rangers (Koronka)**

–LVSC installed Texas as a $1.38 home ‘chalk’ over Baltimore, with the total set at 10 ½. This American League affair is scheduled to start at 8:05 p.m. ET.

–Baltimore right-hander Daniel Cabrera (2-2, 5.68 ERA) beat Seattle Friday as a $1.33 home favorite, 5-2, allowing two runs on four hits (one home run) with a walk and six strikeouts over seven innings.

–The combined seven runs went ‘under’ the 9 1/2-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ occur his third consecutive start.

–Cabrera was 1-2 versus the Rangers last year in three starts, tossing a combined 14 1/3 innings while yielding 13 runs on 14 hits (three home runs) with 14 walks and 19 strikeouts. The Orioles prevailed as a $1.10 road ‘chalk,’ 4-2, while losing as a $1.46 home favorite, 4-2, and as a $1.02 road underdog, 10-3. The ‘under’ was 2-1 during those three games.

–Texas pitcher John Koronka (3-1, 4.25 ERA) toes the rubber armed with a 3-0 record his last four starts after Friday’s no-decision against Cleveland. The two-year veteran went 5 2/3 innings, yielding four runs on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts.

–The Rangers eventually dropped that affair as a $1.34 road underdog, 7-6, while the combined 13 runs eclipsed the 9 1/2-run closing total. The ‘over’ is 3-0-1 his last four starts.

–Koronka has not started against the Orioles during his brief major league career.

**Indians (Byrd) at Athletics (Haren)**

–LVSC lists Oakland as a $1.30 home favorite over Cleveland, with the total set at nine. This game is scheduled to begin at 10:05 p.m. ET.

–Cleveland’s Paul Byrd (3-2, 8.03 ERA) has alternated wins and losses his five starts after beating Boston Thursday as a $1.37 home underdog, 15-3. The veteran right-hander was reached for two runs on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts over five innings.

–The combined 18 runs soared ‘over’ the nine-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 5-0 when he’s on the mound.

–Byrd was 0-2 versus Oakland last season in four starts as a member of the Los Angeles Angels, going a combined 22 2/3 innings while allowing 13 runs on 26 hits (five home runs) with two walks and 11 strikeouts. The Angels prevailed as a $1.28 home favorite, 9-5, while falling as a $1.04 home underdog, 3-0, as a $1.20 road ‘dog, 5-4, and as a $1.50 road ‘dog, 6-1.

–Oakland gives the starting nod to Danny Haren, hoping the right-hander can improve his 1-2 record and 4.84 ERA in five starts.

–The 6-foot-5 hurler earned his first victory of the season after beating Kansas City Friday as a $1.80 road favorite, 5-3. The 25-year-old surrendered two runs on eight hits (two home runs) with a walk and six strikeouts over eight innings.

–The combined eight runs failed to eclipse the nine-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 2-0-1 his last three starts.

–Haren went 1-0 versus Cleveland last year in two starts, tossing a combined 12 innings while yielding four runs on 16 hits (one home run) with two walks and 14 strikeouts. The Athletics triumphed as a $1.66 home ‘chalk,’ 5-4, and as a $1.47 road underdog, 2-0.