The Washington Nationals will head south to play their NL East nemesis Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park. The matchup will begin at 7:35 p.m. ET and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will be airing the game.
Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves Odds
Washington (+115) is entering this game as the underdog to Atlanta (-135) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this night game at nine runs (-115 for the over and -105 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds standing at -130 for the Nationals -1.5 runs and +120 for the Braves +1.5 runs.
The Nationals are 3-0 SU and have gone 2-0 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 2.0 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in the season’s early going and 2.0 units ATS. The Braves are 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS. The team’s gained 1.1 units for moneyline bettors and 3.7 units ATS.
Braves games have a two-0-1 over/under record in 2018. Washington has an over/under record of one-1.
The Braves are coming off of a 15-2 win against the Phillies, while the Nationals just got a 6-5 victory over the Reds.
The right-handed Tanner Roark will get the start for the visiting Nationals. Roark struck out 166 hitters over 181 innings last year with 64 walks but finished the season 13-11 overall with a 4.67 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He made three starts against Atlanta in 2017 and put together a 1-2 record against the Braves with a 5.87 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
The Braves are putting the ball in the hands of lefty Sean Newcomb, who struck out 108 hitters over 99 innings last year (19 starts). Newcomb finished the season 4-9 overall with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP.
Atlanta’s pitching staff has allowed 4.0 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.50, a WHIP of 1.38 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.4. The bullpen has a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 10.4 K/9. In three games against divisional opponents, Braves starters have an ERA of 4.50 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.08.
Atlanta’s offense is putting up 9.0 runs per outing, including 9.0 per game against divisional foes and 9.0 per game over its last five. The team has hit .325/.412/.518 over its last five games and is 2-1 SU during that stretch.
First baseman Freddie Freeman and third baseman Ryan Flaherty have led the Braves’ hitters this year. Freeman is hitting .333/.625/.778 with three hits, four RBIs and five runs scored, and Flaherty’s line is .538/.571/.769 with seven hits, one RBI and five runs.
Compared to his total season slash line of .307/.403/.586, Freeman seemed to enjoy hitting right-handed pitchers at home in 2017, slashing .362/.475/.638 over 160 such plate appearances.
For the visiting squad, Washington’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 0.98 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 11.78 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 8.31, along with a K/9 of 9.35.
The Nationals offense has slashed .269/.367/.529 on its way to 7.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including runs per game against divisional foes and 7.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-0 SU).
Washington’s offense has been led by outfielders Eaton Eaton and Bryce Harper. Eaton has eight hits, five RBIs and seven runs scored, while Harper (.400/.429/.1000) is up to four hits, two homers, four RBIs and three runs scored.
Eaton did not perform especially well on the road last year. Over 63 plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .245/.365/.377 (compared to his overall season line of .297/.393/.462).
Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Nationals, ATS Winner – Nationals, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The Nationals went 10-9 SU against the Braves last season.
The Braves’ bullpen recorded an ERA of 4.58 against the Nationals last year.
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