[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
The Atlanta Braves (79-66) and Washington Nationals (64-80) wrap up a quick 2-game series Wednesday. First pitch from Nationals Park is set for 6:45 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Braves vs. Nationals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Nationals lead 7-5
The Braves are tied for the final Wild Card spot in the National League with the division rival Philadelphia Phillies, 4 games clear of the Chicago Cubs with 17 regular-season games to go.
If not for the Nationals, the Braves would be in much better shape. They’ve dropped 7 of 12 meetings this season against Washington. In fact, Atlanta is just 24-21 inside the division while going just 39-35 on the road.
Atlanta paddled Washington 12-0 in Tuesday’s series opener as a light favorite (-134) while taking care of the Over (7.5) all on its own. Despite the Over, the Under is 8-2 across the past 10 games.
For Washington, it is just 3-7 in the past 10 games while dropping 4 in a row at home. The Over is on a 3-0 run, but the Under still has a 12-7 advantage in the past 19 outings dating back to Aug. 20.
Braves at Nationals projected starters
LHP Max Fried vs. RHP Jake Irvin
Fried (9-8, 3.35 ERA) makes his 26th start. He has a 1.19 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 8.4 K/9 in 147 2/3 IP (1 CG).
- Last start: Win, 7 IP, 0 ER (1 R), 5 H, 1 BB, 8 K in 3-1 home victory vs. Toronto Blue Jays Friday
- 2024 road splits: 6-5, 3.19 ERA, 87 1/3 IP, 31 ER, 9 HR, 1.08 WHIP, .197 opponents’ batting average (OBA), 32 BB, 87 K in 15 starts (1 CG)
- Career vs. Nationals: 8-4, 3.83 ERA (87 IP, 37 ER), 3 HR, 1.33 WHIP, 8.8 K/9 in 18 appearances (17 starts)
Irvin (9-12, 4.28 ERA) makes his 30th start. He has a 1.21 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 7.6 K/9 in 166 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 4 K in 9-4 road setback vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday
- 2024 home splits: 2-8, 4.83 ERA, 63 1/3 IP, 34 ER, 10 HR, 1.29 WHIP, .270 OBA, 15 BB, 53 K in 11 starts
- Career vs. Braves: 1-0, 3.15 ERA (20 IP, 7 ER), 1 HR, 1.40 WHIP, 8.1 K/9 in 4 starts
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
Braves at Nationals odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:10 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Braves -176 (bet $176 to win $100) | Nationals +148 (bet $100 to win $148)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Braves -1.5 (-102) | Nationals +1.5 (-118)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -122 | U: +100)
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]
Braves at Nationals picks and predictions
Prediction
Braves 5, Nationals 3
Moneyline
The BRAVES (-176) are a little on the expensive side, but they’re not priced out of line if you’re a little bit of a conservative bettor. Be careful, though, as Atlanta has inexplicably struggled against the Nationals (+148) this season.
Atlanta appears to have solved its offensive woes with a 12-run breakout Tuesday after averaging just 2.6 runs per game in the previous 9 outings. It should have more success behind the southpaw Fried.
The Nationals (+148) have dropped 3 straight starts by Irvin while going just 2-5 in his previous 7 outings.
Run line/Against the spread
Take the BRAVES -1.5 (-102) at near even-money laying the run and a half. While Atlanta has managed 10 victories in the past 17 outings since Aug. 24, 9 of those wins have been by 2 or more runs. So, if you like Atlanta to win, you should like it to cash on the run line, especially against the very erratic Irvin.
While the Nationals +1.5 (-118) have been a thorn in the side of Atlanta, they’ve made to go just 3-5 in the past 8 outings as an underdog on the run line.
Over/Under
OVER 7.5 (-122) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The Over has cashed in each of the previous 3 outings for the Nationals, and the total has gone high in 3 straight meetings with the Braves in the nation’s capital, too.
For the Braves, the total has gone low at an 8-2 clip in the past 10 outings. However, the Over is 5-3 in the past 8 games on the road.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
Fantasy baseball help from BaseballHQ.com:
Subscribe now to dominate the competition.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]