Atlanta (73-51) at Colorado (63-60), 8:40 p.m. EDT Sports.com Line: Atlanta -119, Colorado +109 Total: 8
This contest marks the first time Colorado is hosting Atlanta this season. Though they sit in third place in the West, the Rockies own the best home winning percentage (38-20, .655) in the division, while Atlanta brings a losing road mark (29-34, .460) into Colorado despite holding the top spot in the East. Despite their respective home/road records, Atlanta owns right-handers this season (51-30, .630) while the Rockies are sub-.500 versus righties (37-39, .487). Colorado leads the majors with a home batting average of .298 (versus a majors-worst .228 on the road), but the Rockies are 11 games behind division-leading San Diego and seven games in back of a wild-card spot, with three teams in front of them. The Rockies lost 2-of-3 at Atlanta back in April. Basketball Lines

Riding a mark of 14-7 for the month of August, the Braves will go with their ace right-hander Tim Hudson (14-5, 2.15 ERA), who is second in the majors in ERA. Hudson has not allowed more than two runs in any of his last six starts (all Braves wins), posting a microscopic 0.82 ERA over this span. This contest will mark Hudson’s first start versus Colorado since the 2007 campaign, when he threw seven shutout innings in a home victory. NFL Lines

Middling through a mediocre season, Colorado turns to right-hander Jason Hammel (8-7, 4.36 ERA), who is 1-4 with a 5.08 ERA in his last six starts. Good news, bad news stat: Hammel is 6-1 at home this season, posting an ERA of 3.36. But in three starts against Atlanta in since the start of the 2009 season, Hammel has allowed a whopping 15 runs and 27 hits in just 10.2 innings of work. NFL Betting Lines

Despite Hudson’s recent success, history shows the Rockies lineup is due for a big game. According to FoxSheets, Play On – Home teams (COLORADO) – cold hitting team – batting .240 or worse over their last 10 games against opponent starting a pitcher who gave up <=2 earned runs in his last 2 outings. (276-186 over the last 5 seasons.) (59.7%, +90.6 units. Rating = 3*).