Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Preview
From Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., the Braves and Nationals face off in an NL East matchup. The over/under line is currently at 8.5 runs, and the Braves are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -178 compared to the Nationals at +149. Today’s forecast in Washington calls for light rain and temperatures in the mid-70s.
First pitch for this one is set for 6:45 PM ET, and BSSE will be televising this matchup. Reynaldo Lopez is starting for the Braves, and the Nationals will be looking to end their three-game losing streak with Mitchell Parker on the mound.
Check out BetCoco for Washington Nationals – Atlanta Braves odds
Washington Nationals Trends and Key Stats
- Across their last five road games, the Braves are 2-3. This includes going 2-3 vs. the runline.
- On the other side, the Nationals have gone 3-2 (SU) and 4-1 in their previous five home contests.
- The Braves have a straight-up record of 5-5 in their last ten games as the favorite, with a runline record of 5-5.
- Over their last ten games as the underdog, the Nationals have gone 3-7 vs. the runline and 7-3 straight-up.
Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Prediction
Heading into their last game vs. the Red Sox, the Braves closed out the series with a 9-0 loss. Atlanta was actually the slight favorite on the money line going into the game but fell behind big early, as the Red Sox scored three times in the 2nd.
Spencer Schwellenbach got the start for the Braves and took the loss. He only lasted 4 2/3 innings, giving up six earned runs on seven hits. Offensively, the Braves only had one fewer hit than the Red Sox but didn’t score a run. Their lone hit was a single by Schwellenbach in the 2nd.
Heading into their road matchup vs. the Nationals, the Braves are 34-25 overall and trail the Phillies by eight games for the NL East lead. This season, they have gone 11-8 in divisional matchups. The Braves will be looking to pick up a win today, as they come in having split their two-game series with the Red Sox.
As the favorite, the Braves have gone 33-21 this season, and they are 1-4 as the underdog. Atlanta has been slightly better at home, going 19-12 compared to 15-13 on the road. Looking at their overall series record, the Braves are 12-6-2 this year. Their two-game series vs. the Red Sox was the first time they did not win a series.
When it comes to the run line, the Braves have been a solid bet this season, going 30-29. They have been particularly good on the road, where they are 16-12 against the run line. Their average run differential on the road is +1.1, compared to +0.2 at home. In games they have won, they have an average run differential of +3.7, while in losses, it is -3.6.
The Atlanta Braves are on the road today against the Washington Nationals. The over/under line for the game is set at 8.5 runs. The combined run average for Braves games this season is 8.4 runs, and their over/under record is 21-36. When the over/under line is set at 8.5 runs, their record is 5-12. So far this season, 44.1% of their games have had over/under lines set higher than 8.5 runs.
Right-hander Reynaldo López is getting the start for the Braves today as he faces the Nationals on the road. He has made 10 starts this season and has a record of 3-2 with a 1.73 ERA. Lopez’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.08, and opponents are batting .203 off him this year. In his last outing, he picked up the win, going six innings and giving up just one earned run on four hits. Before that, he had given up at least two earned runs in three straight starts. López has made six quality starts this year.
Marcell Ozuna has been one of the league’s top power threats this season, as his 17 home runs are 3rd in the MLB and leads the Braves. Ozuna also comes into the game with a team-best batting average of .309. Over his last nine games, Ozuna has gone 10/34 with two homers and six RBIs. First baseman Matt Olson is 2nd on the team with 33 RBIs but is batting just .234 for the season.
As a team, the Braves are averaging 4.5 runs per game and have been slightly better on the road (4.8 RPG). They are also among the league leaders in batting average and have the 8th best slugging percentage in the league. Currently, the Braves have the 4th best team BABIP in the league.
The Nationals will be looking to get back on track after closing out their series vs. the Mets with a 9-1 loss. Washington was the +121 underdog at home going into this game. Things started off well for the Nationals, as they got on the board with a run in the 1st inning but gave up the lead right away as the Mets scored three times in the top of the third.
Washington started Patrick Corbin, and he took the loss, going 5 1/3 innings and giving up six earned runs on seven hits. The Nationals also issued three walks and hit a batter. Jesse Winker was hot at the point, going 2/3 with a run scored.
Washington is hoping to snap their three-game losing streak today as they take on the Braves. Currently, they are 16 games out of the NL East lead, which is held by the Phillies. Overall, the Nationals are 27-34 and are 3rd in the NL East.
The Nationals have struggled at home this year, going 10-16 compared to 17-18 on the road. As the underdog, Washington is 24-31 this year and 3-3 as the favorite. So far, they have dropped two straight games as the underdog. Washington’s overall series record is 7-12-1, and they were swept by the Mets in their most recent series.
Washington has been a strong bet on the run line this season, going 36-25 overall. They have been particularly good on the road, going 23-12, compared to 13-13 at home. They have been an underdog in most games, going 33-22 on the run line as the dog. Their average run margin is -0.4 runs per game.
Washington’s games have averaged 8.3 runs per game this season, and the Nationals have a 27-31 over/under record. When the over/under line has been set at 8.5 runs, they are 9-10, and 27.9% of their games have had higher lines. Overall, 41.0% of their games have had lower lines than 8.5 runs.
Left-hander Mitchell Parker gets the start for the Nationals today as he faces the Braves at home. Parker has made nine starts this season and has a record of 4-3 with a 3.60 ERA. Looking at his overall numbers, Parker has a WHIP of 1.14 and opponents are batting .234 this season. In his last outing, Parker took the loss, giving up three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work. Before that, he had won two straight starts. Parker has made three home starts and is 2-0 with a 2.56 ERA at home compared to 2-3 with a 4.22 ERA on the road.
Washington’s offense has been struggling this season, as they are just 24th in runs per game and have the 25th ranked OPS in the league. So far, they are averaging 4 runs per game and have been even worse on the road, averaging just 3.8 runs per contest. The Nationals have also been one of the league’s worst home run-hitting teams, as they are just 19th in the league in home runs.
Joey Meneses is leading the Nationals in RBIs this season, but he is batting just .236, and his two home runs are 6th on the team. CJ Abrams is batting .246 and has gone deep nine times this season, which is the best mark on the team and 11th in the MLB. Eddie Rosario is also near the top of the league in homers but is batting just .181 for the season.
Our pick for today’s Braves vs. Nationals game is to take the Nationals on the money line at +149. With the starting pitchers, Reynaldo López and Mitchell Parker, we have Parker finishing with more strikeouts and also giving up fewer runs.
If you’re looking for a final score prediction, we have the Nationals winning this one by a score of 6-5. As for Reynaldo López, he is projected to finish with five strikeouts compared to Parker, who we have finishing with four.
Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Betting Tips
- We like the Nationals on the moneyline (+149)
- On the run line we like Nationals (+1.5)
- Projecting a combined 11 runs, we like the over
Washington Nationals Injury Report
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Trevor Williams | Out | Hip Flexor |
| Mason Thompson | Out | Elbow |
| Josiah Gray | Out | Elbow/Forearm |
| Cade Cavalli | Out | Elbow |
| Jose A. Ferrer | Out | Teres Major |
Atlanta Braves Injury Report
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Matzek | Out | Elbow |
| A.J. Minter | Out | Hip |
| Ronald Acuña Jr. | Out | Knee |
| Angel Perdomo | Out | Elbow |
| Sean Murphy | Questionable | Elbow |
| Spencer Strider | Out | Elbow |
| AJ Smith-Shawver | Out | Oblique |
