Chopping Lines: Banking on Glavine’s Brittle Old Bones

READ MORE: A.J. Benza, Chopping Lines, MLB Betting, New York Mets, Washington Nationals

7:10 p.m.
Washington Nationals (73-71, H. Carrasco)

at

New York Mets (71-72, T. Glavine)

Best Line: METS -162, NATS +165

The New York Cockteasers (formerly known as the Mets) have been thisclose to stealing the New York thunder usually reserved for the Yankees all season long. They could still do it, provided they turn a deaf ear to their demons and bust their asses these final 19 games. And they catch two big breaks tonight against the Nationals, who are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Mets in the Wild Card race. First, the Nats had to scratch John Patterson as their starter because - listen to this - his sinus infection and bronchitis turned into a case of asthma. Instead Hector Carrasco takes the hill. Patterson lost his only decision against the Mets, but he posted an ERA of 2.84 thru 19 innings. Second, the old and improved Tom Glavine has rolled up his sleeves and silently posted some real decent work for the Cockteasers. In his last two performances against the Braves, Glavine went a cumulative 15 innings and gave up just two runs. In his 11 starts since the All-Star break, Glavine’s ERA is 2.48, the 7th lowest in the National League in that span. Take the Mets tonight and watch Carlos Beltran finally step out and begin to carry his team.

BENZAPICK!: METS -162