Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Preview
On Tuesday at 6:45, the Braves and Nationals face off in an NL East matchup. This one is being played at Nationals Park in Washington, and the Nationals are the slight underdog on the money line (+135). The money line odds have the Braves at -160, and their record is 78-66. The Nationals are 64-79 and MacKenzie Gore.
As for the over/under line, it is currently at 8 runs, and BSSO will be televising this one. Reynaldo Lopez is going for the Braves, and he has a 3.93 ERA.
Check out BetCoco for Washington Nationals – Atlanta Braves odds
Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves Trends and Key Stats
- The Braves are 2-3 in their five most recent road games, including a 4-1 runline record.
- The Nationals, on the other hand, have played five home games recently, during which they have recorded a 2-3 (SU) and 2-3 record.
- The Braves have a 7-3 straight-up record in their last ten games as the favorite, and 6-4 against the runline.
- As the underdog, the Nationals have gone 4-6 vs. the runline and 5-5 straight-up.
Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Prediction
The Braves will be looking to get back on track after closing out their series vs. the Reds with a 1-0 loss. Atlanta was the heavy favorite at -157 at home but couldn’t get anything going offensively, as the Reds scored the game’s only run in the 2nd inning. The Braves also wasted a good start from Charlie Morton, who took the loss, going 6 2/3 innings and giving up just one run on six hits.
Atlanta’s offense was carried by Matt Olson, going 2/3 with two singles. The Braves only had two other hits, both of which were singles. They didn’t have any timely hitting, as they didn’t score a run and left seven runners on base. The Braves also didn’t have a stolen base and struck out 12 times as a team.
Atlanta is on the road today vs. the Nationals with an overall record of 78-66, which has them 3rd in the NL East. Currently, they trail the Phillies by eight games for the division lead. Heading into today’s game, they are 23-21 in divisional matchups.
At home, the Braves have gone 40-31 this season, and they are just above .500 on the road, coming in with a record of 38-35. As the favorite, the Braves are 66-50 this season, and they are 12-16 as the underdog. The team lost the final game of their series vs. the Reds and are 5-5 over their last 10 games.
When betting on the Braves’ run line this season, it’s been a coin flip. They’re 68-76 overall, but 39-34 on the road, where they’ve outscored opponents by an average of 0.9 runs per game. They’re 29-42 at home, where they’ve been outscored by 0.1 runs per game. They’re 51-65 against the run line as the favorite and 17-11 as the underdog. Their average run differential in wins is 3.5, compared to -3.2 in losses.
Today’s over/under line of 8 runs for the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals is right in line with the season average of 8.0 runs per game. The Braves have played to the over in 52 of their 87 games this season, but when the line has been set at 8 runs, they have gone under in 15 of 24 games. The under has hit in their last two games.
Right-hander Reynaldo López gets the start for the Braves today as he faces the Nationals on the road. He has made 23 starts this year and has a record of 8-5 with an ERA of 2.04. Lopez’s WHIP for the season is 1.15, and he has turned in 13 quality starts. In his last outing, he took the loss, giving up two earned runs in six innings of work. Before that, he had won two straight starts. Against the Nationals on August 25th, he finished with a no-decision, giving up one earned run in six innings of work.
So far this season, the Braves offense is averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 17th in the league and is just below the league average. However, they have been a better team on the road, averaging 4.6 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .240, which is 15th in the league, and they are 5th in the league in home runs. Marcell Ozuna has been the team’s top hitter this season, batting .304 with a team-high 37 homers and 98 RBIs.
Ozuna has also been swinging a good bat of late, going 5/18 in his last five games. However, he has yet to go deep in that stretch. Jarred Kelenic has gone deep in his last four games and is batting .250 in that stretch. Ronald Acuña Jr. is also on a four-game hitting streak.
Washington closed out their series vs. the Pirates with a 7-3 loss. Heading into the game, the Nationals were the +132 underdog on the money line. 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 Pirates scored four times in the bottom of the first.
Patrick Corbin had a rough outing, giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits and issuing three walks. The Nationals also wasted a big game from CJ Abrams, who homered in the 1st inning but went just 1/4.
Heading into today’s game vs. the Braves, the Nationals are 4th in the NL East, 21.5 games behind the Phillies for the division lead. Overall, the Nationals are 64-79, and they are 19-21 against other teams in the NL East. Washington’s overall series record is 17-23-5, and they are 4-6 across their last 10 games.
At home, the Nationals are 32-37 this year and 32-42 on the road. As the underdog, the Nationals are 52-67 this season compared to 12-12 as the favorite. Washington also comes in having lost three straight games at home.
Washington is 80-63 against the run line this season, with a run differential of -0.5 runs per game. The Nationals are 37-32 against the run line at home, where they have a run differential of -0.6 runs per game. Washington is 43-31 against the run line on the road, where they have a run differential of -0.5 runs per game. The Nationals are 11-13 against the run line as the favorite and 69-50 against the run line as the underdog. In their wins, Washington has an average run differential of +3.3 runs per game, while in their losses, they have an average run differential of -3.7 runs per game. The Nationals have failed to cover the run line in their last two games at home.
Washington has been involved in high-scoring games this season, with a combined run average of 9.0 runs per game. Their over/under record is 69-69, and their games have averaged a line of 9 runs. When the line has been set at 8 runs, their games have gone over 10 times, under 8 times, and pushed once. Overall, 68.5% of their games have had higher lines than 8 runs, and they have hit the over in their last two games.
Washington is sending left-hander MacKenzie Gore to the mound today vs. the Braves. He has made 28 starts this season and has a record of 8-11 with an ERA of 4.32. Gore’s WHIP for the season is 1.50. In his last outing, he finished with a no-decision, going six innings and giving up one earned run on nine hits. Before that, he had given up at least two earned runs in three straight outings. Gore has turned in eight quality starts this year and is averaging 9.71 strikeouts per nine innings. For the year, he has allowed 13 homers and is averaging 3.51 walks per nine innings.
Washington’s offense has been pretty average this season, as they are 20th in the league at 4.2 runs per game. They are also near the bottom of the league in home runs and isolated power. However, they have done a good job of putting the ball in play, as they have the 5th fewest strikeouts in the league. The Nationals’ team batting average of .245 is 12th in the league.
Luis Garcia Jr. is hitting .285 this season and is 2nd on the team with 15 home runs. CJ Abrams has gone deep 19 times this season but is hitting just .238. In his last eight games, Andrés Chaparro has three home runs and 10 RBIs, but is batting just .242 over that stretch.
At +135, the Nationals are the team we recommend taking in this one. We have them winning by a final score of 5-4. If you’re looking for a parlay, the under could be a good option, as the line is sitting at 8 runs, and we have this one finishing with a combined nine runs.
Looking at the starting pitchers, MacKenzie Gore is projected to finish with eight strikeouts, which is the highest among all starters. As for Reynaldo López, he is projected to finish with seven K’s, and he is also predicted to give up four earned runs.
Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Betting Tips
- Take the Braves on the moneyline
- On the run line we like Nationals (+1.5)
- Projecting a combined 9 runs, we like the over
Washington Nationals Injury Report
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Trevor Williams | Out | Hip Flexor |
| Alex Call | Out | Foot/Ankle |
| Mason Thompson | Out | Elbow |
| Josiah Gray | Out | Elbow |
| Joan Adon | Out | Shoulder/Biceps |
| Cade Cavalli | Out | Elbow |
Atlanta Braves Injury Report
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Travis d’Arnaud | Out | Personal |
| Whit Merrifield | Doubtful | Foot |
| Ozzie Albies | Out | Wrist |
| A.J. Minter | Out | Hip |
| Austin Riley | Out | Hand |
| Huascar Ynoa | Out | Elbow |
| Ronald Acuña Jr. | Out | Knee |
| Angel Perdomo | Out | Elbow |
| Ray Kerr | Out | Elbow |
| Spencer Strider | Out | Elbow |
