Eric Stults (0-1, 4.50 ERA) and Doug Fister (1-0, 2.37 ERA) start in the first of a three-game series between the Atlanta Braves (9-9) and the Washington Nationals (7-12) at Turner Field. The Nationals come into this series in the midst of a five-game losing streak. Action begins at 7:10 p.m. ET on Monday, Apr. 27 and can be seen on MASN and SPSO.
Stults is 1-1 with a 5.17 ERA in his appearances against the Nationals, but goes up against a below-average Washington offense which is batting just .218 this season. Freddie Freeman (.235, 11 Rs, 4 HRs, 8 RBIs) had another good game yesterday, going 2 for 4 with one run. Fister is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA against the Braves in his career. He takes on a below-average Atlanta offense that’s batting just .237. Bryce Harper (.270, 12 Rs, 5 HRs, 11 RBIs) went 1 for 4 yesterday with one run, one home run, and one RBI.
Washington takes on Atlanta as a -130 favorite. The Over/Under (O/U) for the matchup is sitting at seven runs. The Braves have an overall money line of +258 and a record as the underdog of 6-6. Atlanta has recorded a disappointing 2-6 record as the underdog over its last 10 games. The Braves have seen a decline in scoring against teams inside their division, averaging 3.4 runs per game. They average 3.8 runs per game on the season. As for the Atlanta defense and pitching staff, it’s been a struggle for opposing teams to score runs against the Braves. The 3.7 runs that Atlanta’s pitchers allow per game makes them the fourth-ranked staff in the NL. The Braves are the second-best team in the NL at limiting hits to their opponents, allowing only 7.6 hits per game so far this season.
In games where it is the favorite, Washington has a 6-8 record and an overall money line of -706. They have played poorly as the favorite with a 5-7 record against teams in their division, and a 5-5 record SU. Offensively, the Nationals have really sputtered in division games. They have decreased their season average of 3.5 runs per game by averaging 2.8 in those contests. The Nationals average 4.2 runs allowed per game, but does better whenever another team from the NL East is on the schedule. They bring that runs allowed average down to 3.4 against division foes.
The Braves have a 7-7 record against right-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Fister takes the mound.
Predictions: SU Winner – ATL, O/U – Over
Notes
When leading after 7 innings, Washington is 4-6, while Atlanta is 4-7.
The Braves managed to give up four walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Nationals who are coming in with a 5-1 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When they are outhit, the Nationals are 1-11. The Braves have a 1-6 record when opponents outhit them.
Both Atlanta and Washington are tied at 13th in home runs, hitting 16 this season.
Ranking 12th, Washington is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 7.44 per game. Atlanta ranks in the top 10 at 10th with 7.65.
Ranking 25th, Washington is near the bottom of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.637). Atlanta ranks in the bottom half at 16th with an OPS of .684.
When the Nationals allow at least one home run, they are 2-4, well-matched with the Braves who are 3-5 when allowing at least one homer.
