If familiarity breeds contempt, there should be animosity aplenty on Friday when the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves meet at Turner Field.
The Nationals will give the ball to starter Shairon Martis in this one. Righthander Martis is 0-0 this season with a 0.00 ERA.
Meanwhile, it'll be ace Derek Lowe who starts for the Braves. Righthander Lowe is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA so far this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Braves listed as 225-moneyline favorites versus the Nationals, while the game's total has not yet been posted.
The Nationals lost 6-4 to the Marlins last time out, as +125 underdogs. That game's 10 runs made it OVER the posted over/under (9).
Austin Kearns had one RBI, and walked twice, while Daniel Cabrera gave up five runs off seven hits over six innings on the mound to suffer the loss.
The Braves failed to complete a sweep of the defending champion Phillies last time out in a 12-11 loss, as +105 underdogs. That game's combined 23 runs sailed OVER the posted over/under (9).
Matt Diaz homered and drove in three runs, while Blaine Boyer allowed two runs in relief to suffer the loss.
Current streak:
Washington has lost 3 straight games.
Team records:
Washington: 0-3 SU
Atlanta: 2-1 SU
Washington most recently:
When playing on Friday are 2-8
Before playing Atlanta are 6-4
After playing Florida are 2-8
After a loss are 1-9
Atlanta most recently:
When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing Washington are 5-5
After playing Philadelphia are 3-7
After a loss are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Washington's last 10 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Washington's last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 7 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Atlanta's last 10 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Atlanta's last 7 games when playing at home against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Atlanta's last 12 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games
Next up:
Atlanta home to Washington, Saturday, April 11