Sunday’s MLB Over/Under: Will Stripling and Newcomb Stay Hot?

OK, never fun to lose two in a row on a weekend. It's especially not fun to potentially get swept, so let's see what I have this afternoon to prevent that from happening.

Zylbert's 2018 MLB Over/Under Betting Record: 43-25-2, +15.2 units

Yesterday's Result: Diamondbacks-Rockies Under 13 (LOSS)

*Each bet graded as if it were to win 1 unit

Atlanta Braves @ Los Angeles Dodgers | O/U: 7

4:10 p.m. ET

Probable Pitchers: Sean Newcomb (7-1, 2.49 ERA) vs. Ross Stripling (4-1, 1.52 ERA)

Considered one of the top pitching prospects when he first debuted with the Braves last season, Sean Newcomb has a great case to make the All-Star team in only his second campaign.

He's 7-1 with a 2.49 ERA entering today's assignment, and the strikeouts have been there, too, punching out nearly a batter every inning in his 68.2 total frames.

Newcomb has also held opposing lineups to a miniscule .198 batting average. Furthermore, teams have clubbed only three home runs versus the rapidly ascending southpaw — and not one has left the yard off Newcomb since April 26. There's a good chance this run of homer-less baseball will continue for Newcomb, as the Dodgers have produced one long ball every 34.5 at-bats with a left-hander on the hill, seventh-worst among all major league clubs.

In general, Los Angeles has had issues opposite left-handed pitching, carrying a .232 team batting average in that department. That has them ranked 23rd in baseball. It figures to be especially tough to flip that trend in today's contest, as Newcomb has crafted a quality start in all but one of his past seven trips to the mound. Four of those outings, including his most recent one in San Diego, saw the lefty register at least six scoreless innings.

Yet interestingly, it might be Newcomb's counterpart, Ross Stripling, who is the hotter pitcher right now. Stripling, who entered the season as a part of the Dodgers' bullpen, has been pressed into the Dodgers' rotation as a result of their numerous injuries and, like teammate Walker Buehler, he's stepped up big time.

In fact, in his seven starts with Los Angeles, Stripling has yielded more than two runs only once, and that was back in his first starting assignment on April 30. In his last four outings, the 28-year-old right-hander has allowed just two runs combined, spanning 24.2 innings, registering a dynamite 35/2 K/BB ratio in the process. Yeah, Stripling is legit and he's doing all he can to continue proving that he's capable big-league starters.

With the total currently juiced toward the over, I'll be waiting it out to see if I can get the under at 7.5, since it has no shot of going in the opposite direction. If that does not happen, I'll still be betting Under 7.

Play: UNDER 7/7.5

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