Baseball Betting Odds: Braves vs. Rockies MLB Free Pick

Baseball Betting Odds Braves vs. Rockies MLB Free Pick: Atlanta (51-36) and Colorado (41-45) play the third of four games in this National League series tonight. Atlanta has taken the first two contests by a combined 9-4 score and they have their ace on the hill in this one.

We got stumped by a pitcher’s duel in the Tigers vs. Angels game last night (1-0 Final) but don’t see the same outcome happening here. First pitch for this Major League Baseball wagering action is slated for 7:10 PM ET on Wednesday, July 6, 2011, from Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia.

Rockies @ Braves: MLB Game Day Preview

One has to feel for Atlanta as they’ve been one of the hottest teams in baseball with an 8-2 record over their last ten games. The Braves would be in full control of first place in every division, except the AL East, where they would be 1.5 games back of the New York Yankees (51-33). Instead, they are stuck in second in NL East as they sit four games back of the equally hot Philadelphia Phillies.

Colorado has been heading in the opposite direction as they have dropped seven of their last ten contests. The Rockies had a 4.5 game division lead on May 1, 2011 (over the Dodgers) after they started the season with a 17-9 record. Since then, they have slipped to 6.5 games back of the San Francisco Giants and sit third in the NL West.

MLB Betting Odds: Braves vs. Rockies Free Pick

Judging by the MLB betting odds being offered at the Bodog.com online sportsbook, this Braves vs. Rockies match-up is a total mismatch. At -210, the Braves have the longest Money Line odds on the betting board tonight.

One of the primary reasons the odds are so slanted, in favor of Atlanta, is the fact that the Major League leader in ERA is toeing the rubber for the Braves tonight. RHP Jair Jurrjens (11-3 1.89 ERA) gets the start and is looking to become the first 12-game winner in the National League this season. Jurrjens is coming off a one hit shutout win over the Baltimore Orioles and owns a 4-1-lifetime record against the Rockies.

RHP Aaron Cook (0-3 4.66 ERA) has the unenviable task of opposing Jurrjens on the bump for the Rockies. Cook has not won in five tries this season as he has allowed more earned runs (15) and walks (13) than he has strikeouts (12). Throw in the fact that Cook has allowed 36 hits, in 29 innings pitched, and the reasons for the long betting lines are clear.

We banked on Verlander last night because the guy has been money. Unfortunately, the Angels Dan Heron pitched his best game of the season to get the 100th win of his career. The Vaporizer was a hard luck loser despite giving up just one run in 7.2 innings pitched.

That won’t happen with this pitching duel tonight. In fact, we like the Braves and Jurrjens so much here that we are going to stray off our normal betting path somewhat. In addition to our daily free pick, we also like the bonus two-bet parlay prediction that is pictured below.

Back the Braves over the Rockies at -1.5 (+105) with the Bodog Point Spread!