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The Atlanta Braves (20-9) and Los Angeles Dodgers (20-13) open a 3-game series Friday at Dodger Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Braves vs. Dodgers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Braves won 4-3 in 2023
The Braves have won 4 of the past 5 meetings vs. the Dodgers, including 3 of 4 last season at Dodger Stadium. The Under holds a slight 6-4 advantage in the past 10 head-to-head battles.
The Braves are back after an off-day Thursday. Atlanta dropped 2 of 3 games in Seattle to begin the 1st half of a current 6-game West Coast road trip, cashing the Under at a 2-0-1 clip in the interleague set. The total has gone low at an 8-0-1 pace in the past 9 outings for Atlanta.
The Dodgers return home after a 9-game road trip to Washington, Toronto and Arizona. The Dodgers won 7 of the 9 games, including a perfect 7-0 record as a favorite. The Under has cashed in 4 of the past 5 outings.
Braves at Dodgers projected starters
RHP Charlie Morton vs. RHP Gavin Stone
Morton (2-0, 3.60 ERA) makes his 6th start. He has a 1.13 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9 and 8.4 K/9 in 30 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 7 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K in 4-2 home loss in 11 innings vs. Cleveland Guardians Saturday
- 2024 road splits: 1-0, 4.76 ERA (11 1/3 IP, 6 ER), 1 HR, 3 BB, 14 K, .238 opponents’ batting average (OBA) and 1.15 WHIP in 2 starts
- Career vs. Dodgers: 1-4, 5.70 ERA (36 1/3 IP, 23 ER) 16 BB, 39 K, 1.60 WHIP in 7 starts
Stone (2-1, 4.68 ERA) makes his 6th start. He has a 1.44 WHIP, 4.3 BB/9 and 6.5 K/9 in 25 innings.
- Last start: Win, 7 IP, 1 ER, 2 H (solo HR), 2 BB, 2 K in 12-2 road victory vs. Toronto Blue Jays April 26
- 2024 home splits: 1-0, 4.20 ERA (15 IP, 7 ER), 16 H, 7 BB, 11 K with .276 OBA and 1.53 WHIP in 3 starts
- Career vs. Braves: 0-0, 11.25 ERA (4 IP, 5 ER), 5 H, 1 HR, 5 BB, 1 K in 1 road start back on May 22, 2023
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Braves at Dodgers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:36 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Braves -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Dodgers -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Braves -1.5 (+150) | Dodgers +1.5 (-185)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Braves at Dodgers picks and predictions
Prediction
Dodgers 5, Braves 3
Moneyline
The DODGERS (-115) are a strong play at home in this marquee matchup at Chavez Ravine despite the fact L.A. struggled with the Braves last season.
The difference here is starting pitching as Stone looked to build off a tremendous performance last time out in Toronto when he posted a quality start. The 40-year-old Morton cannot be trusted, especially on the road.
Run line/Against the spread
The Dodgers +1.5 (-185) are too expensive on the run line if you require insurance, and you just can’t bring yourself to play Los Angeles straight up for some reason.
However, AVOID. The moneyline is a better and much cheaper play.
Over/Under
UNDER 9.5 (-115) is a rather high number, but the books might have bumped things up a bit due to Morton’s struggles on the road, his awful career numbers against L.A. and Stone’s home ERA so far.
Still, the total has gone low in 4 of the past 5 games for Los Angeles, while cashing at an impressive 8-0-1 clip in the past 9 for Atlanta. The Under is 12-2-1 in the past 15 outings for the Braves, too, including the past 2 starts by Morton.
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