Braves vs Yankees MLB picks – June 18th 2012

BRONX, NY — Think the New York Yankees are enjoying this season’s interleague play?

How about a 9-game win streak to show much they’ve loved beating up on their National League counterparts!

After losing the season finale to the Tampa Bay Rays on June 7^th, the Bronx Bombers have stringed together their longest win streak in three years. With back-to-back-to-back sweeps over the NY Mets, the Atlanta Braves and most recently the Washington Nationals, the Yanks have taken sole possession of the AL East.

Tonight, Joe Girardi will send his ace, LHP CC Sabathia (8-3, 3.70 ERA) to try and extend their streak to double-digits, as they prepare for a 3-game set against the Braves.

It’s certainly with noting that MLB oddsmakers certainly love the pinstripes with the big fella on the mound.

The Yanks will go into this game as a 20/41 [-205 ML] favorites to top the underdog Braves [7/4 or +175 ML] for the fourth time over the past week. In addition, the projected OVER/UNDER line is set at a combined total of 8½ runs scored.

First pitch for this series opener is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET live from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY, and it’ll be broadcasted live on ESPN and YES. Sign up to receiver free MLB Picks from the best baseball experts in the world right here!

How good have the NYYankees been during their current hot stretch?

Not only are they a league-best 19-4 since May 22^nd, but also their 9-game win streak is the longest in three years. For as hot as the bats have been, and as solid as the offense has become after a slow start, their success is a direct result of great pitching.

“We can talk about offense all we want; the fact is our pitching staff is why we are here today,” said first baseman, Mark Teixeira.

With a stingy 1.88 ERA and 81 strikeouts over 86 innings, the Yanks are the hottest team in the majors and they are not done yet. By the time New York concludes this home-series with the Braves, followed by three more games versus its cross-town rival Mets, the streak could reach an eye-popping 15 games before we get back to intra-league play.

Sandwiched between all this winning is the fact that their skipper just reached a huge milestone. With the Yankees 7-2 victory over the Nats Friday night, Girardi earned his 500^th career victory in what should eventually be a Hall of Fame managerial career. That number is certainly more remarkable when taking into account that, 421 of those wins have come since taking over for Joe Torre in 2008.

“That’s a big deal,” said Yankees’ captain Derek Jeter.  “Five hundred is like 750 in New York. He’s done a great job since he’s been with us and he should be extremely proud of that.”

ST free MLB picks: With CC on the mound against Atlanta’s LHP Mike Minor (3-4, 6.01) there’s really no reason why to pick against the Bombers. Considering that Sabathia’s last start left a lot to be desired and against these same Braves, I expect the former Cy Young winner to be dominating on his home mound. I like the New York Yankees at -1½ [EVEN] this evening over the Braves.

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