MLB Betting: Braves battle Mets

Though the Atlanta Braves are holding on to the NL East Division lead, they will need every possible win now that several challengers are breathing down their back.

That process will begin Monday night when Bobby Cox' club opens a four-game home set against a New York Mets team that is 6-5 in 11 games against them.

Atlanta is slated to send right-hander Jair Jurrjens (5-4, 4.36 ERA) to the mound against New York left-hander Patrick Misch (0-3, 3.50 ERA).

Jurrjens has not faced the Mets since Atlanta's 3-1 loss in an April 24 trip to New York as a 126 road favorite. The Curacao native allowed all three of New York's runs on four hits in 6 2/3 innings (98 pitches).

New York's Jason Bay, who is now out for the season due to a concussion, had a 3-for-4 night from the cleanup spot. The three-time All-Star spanked an RBI-double to tie the matchup in the bottom of the sixth frame.

Jeff Francoeur and Henry Blanco added the Mets' go-ahead and insurance runs with a double and sacrifice fly, respectively.

Backers of the ‘under' had an easy win, with the combined four runs plunging below the ‘total' of 8 ½. The ‘under' is 12-1 in the last 13 meetings between the divisional foes.

Jurrjens' last start occurred in Wednesday's 12-10 loss as a 116 road favorite against the Colorado Rockies. The slugfest saw the 24-year-old hurler log a no-decision after allowing seven runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings (90 pitches).

Braves reliever Jonny Venters took the loss by allowing four runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Atlanta's Brian McCann had a 4-for-5 night, with one RBI. The Georgia native went on to hit a combined 2-for-7 in his next two games, including a three-run double.

The Braves are 7-0 in Jurrjens' seven home starts, with the ‘under' going 6-1. Atlanta has given up a stingy 1.6 RPG in that stretch, with Jurrjens allowing a .306 OBP and 1.21 WHIP.

Misch's last two starts have resulted in a pair of one-run setbacks. The latest outing for the Illinois native occurred in Wednesday's 5-4 defeat as a 101 home dog against the Florida Marlins.

Misch yielded three earned runs on nine hits in a six-inning stint (82 pitches). The Western Michigan University alum did not walk a batter for a second straight game, while notching four strikeouts.

Mets sluggers Ike Davis and David Wright poked a triple and homer, respectively, in the final three innings to nearly send the game into extra frames.

Wright's homer lifted the game's nine combined runs above the eight-run ‘total.'

The Mets are 26-40 in their first 66 road games, with the ‘under' going 34-28-4. The Mets have hit .243 against right-handers in that span.

Monday's first pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. (PT), with ESPN providing the nationally-televised coverage.

The weather forecast in Atlanta calls for an 80-degree evening, with calm winds and a 10-percent chance of thunderstorms.