Big weekend of sports betting action coming up and we’ll be back later today with our writeups and selections on Saturday soccer action as well as a preview of Sunday’s WEC MMA card.  We’ll get started with a baseball betting position as the New York Mets host the Atlanta Braves.  We’ve found a picture of a Jack Russell Terrier that also happens to be a Mets fan.  With the Mets’ performance in the past couple of years this arguably constitutes ‘cruelty to animals’ but the dog looks happy and well cared for.

The Mets have started this season pretty much the same as last year–they’re floundering at the bottom of the division with a 7-9 record.  The Braves enter this game having lost two straight but have been playing reasonably well in the early going and check in with a 8-7 record.  This game goes at 4:10 Pacific/7:10 Eastern from Shea Stadium.

ATLANTA BRAVES VS. NEW YORK METS

Good opportunity for Atlanta to end their mini-slump against a weak Mets team that were dominated by the Braves last year.  The Mets went 5-13 against Atlanta in 2009, costing their financial backers 8.8 units.  The Mets will start John Maine and he’s looked pretty sketchy in his outings this season with an 0-1 record and a hefty 10.38 ERA.  He’s pitched marginally better at home, that is if you can consider a 7.20 ERA much of an improvement.  He’ll be opposed by Kenshin Kawakami who has been hot and cold this season and checks in with a 4.91 ERA.  He hasn’t received much in the way of run support from his teammates, though that shouldn’t be a problem against the struggling Maine.

Atlanta was a solid road investment last season posting 12.05 units of profit and there’s no reason they shouldn’t win two of three or better here.  Despite a 1-2 record, Kawakami has pitched well against the Mets with a 2.41 ERA.  At this juncture, Atlanta has a lot more upside than the Mets who look to be headed for another dismal season.  We’ll lay the price on the road tonight and will probably stay on the Braves for the entire series.

PLAY ATLANTA (KAWAKAMI) -130 OVER NY METS (MAINE)