It's not official until the announcement is made but in the mean time the un-official new Atlanta Braves first baseman and clean-up hitter Mark Teixeira is boarding a plane to fly from Dallas to Atlanta where he will join his new club and most likely be in uniform for Tuesday’s Braves-Astros’ series opener at Turner Field Tuesday night. Once he arrives, slumping outfielder Andruw Jones will vacate his old clean-up position for Teixeira.
The Braves (55-51) are currently sitting in third place of the NL East Division 4.5 games behind division leading New York Mets and 1.5 games behind the second place Philadelphia Phillies.
The addition of Teixeira should greatly enhance Atlanta’s chances to stay in the division race. Teixeira has a batting average of .297 with 13 home runs and 79 RBI’s through 78 games with the Texas Rangers.
According to oddsmakers at online sportsbook Bodog.com, the Atlanta Braves have an 8/1 chance of winning the National League Pennant. As of Tuesday morning the odds on Atlanta’s chances of winning the Eastern Division were unavailable due to the acquisition of Teixeira.
In the three game series between the Braves and Astros beginning Tuesday night, oddsmakers favor the Braves installing them with a money line price of -210 to win the set. For Houston backers, a series win will yield a nice profit with +170 juice.
Oddsmakers favor the Braves in Tuesday’s series game-one with a -169 ml chalk and have installed the Astros with +154. The game total is holding at 9.0 runs. Totals prices are; for OVER (-115), for UNDER (-105).
For the Braves, LHP Chuck James (8-8, 3.55 ERA) pitches and RHP Chris Sampson (7-7, 4.29 ERA) takes the mound for the Astros.
The Astros blasted San Diego 18-11 as a -120 favorite last time out. The 29 runs scored went well OVER the posted over/under total (9.5).
Eric Munson was 3-4 with a home run and two RBI for Houston, while Chris Burke added a three-run blast.
The Braves blasted Arizona 14-0 as a -150 favorite last time out. The 14 runs scored went OVER the posted over/under total (9.5).
Chipped Jones had five RBI and Willie Harris scored four runs for Atlanta, while Tim Hudson pitched seven shutout innings in the win.
Reno Goldberg's pick: I think the addition of Teixeira will add more than pop to the lineup. Some extra swagger perhaps? Take the Braves ML -169. James is a pretty good pitcher too and should hold the Astros in check.
