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The Atlanta Braves (2-0) take on the Philadelphia Phillies (0-2) in the finale of a 3-game set Sunday at Citizens Bank Park at 1:35 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Braves vs. Phillies odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Braves lead 2-0
Atlanta mopped the floor with the Phightin’ Phils Saturday afternoon in a 12-4 final. DH Marcell Ozuna and 2B Ozzie Albies each homered and drove in 3 runs. They only got 2/3 of an inning out of starter Max Fried, but RHP Jesse Chavez pitched 3 solid innings to lend a hand.
RHP Aaron Nola was tattooed for 7 ER on 12 hits in 4 2/3 IP in the loss Saturday. 2B Bryson Stott went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs. The Phillies’ top 3 hitters, DH Kyle Schwarber, SS Trea Turner and 1B Bryce Harper, are a combined 2 for 18 (.111) to start the season.
Braves at Phillies projected starters
LHP Chris Sale vs. LHP Ranger Suarez
Sale went 6-5 in 20 starts last year with a 4.30 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 11.0 K/9 in 102 2/3 innings.
- Went 5-4 with a 4.24 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 9.9 K/9 in 11 road starts with the Boston Red Sox last year vs. 1-1 with a 4.37 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 12.3 K/9 in 9 home starts
- Beat the Phillies in his only start against them last year with 6 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 1 BB and 10 K
Suarez went 4-6 in 22 starts last year with a 4.18 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9 and 8.6 K/9 over 125 IP.
- Had trouble at home last year: 1-3 with a 5.45 ERA, 1.41 WHIP in 12 starts vs. 3-3 with a 2.75 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 10 starts on the road
- Has decent numbers against ATL in last 5 starts: 1-1, 1.82 ERA, 26 K in 29 2/3 IP
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Braves at Phillies odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at at 12:50 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Braves -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | Phillies +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Braves -1.5 (+120) | Phillies +1.5 (-145)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
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Braves at Phillies picks and predictions
Prediction
Braves 5, Phillies 3
Moneyline
The Phils’ big bats are struggling, and facing a lefty with as good of an arsenal as Sale isn’t exactly what the doctor ordered. That said, Suarez has pitched well against Atlanta. He held it to 1 run and struck out 7 in 6 IP in his lone start against it last year. So I think he’ll keep them in it, but Atlanta is just too much.
Take the BRAVES -140.
Run line/Against the spread
The Braves have outscored the Phils 21-7 in the 1st 2 games. Their lineup is so deep, and as long as Sale doesn’t walk the park, BRAVES -1.5 (+120) remains at a solid value.
Over/Under
We’ve had 30 runs in the 1st 2 games, and I think we regress to the mean a little Sunday afternoon. I’d probably wait and see if the total reaches 9 before you strike.
Otherwise, LEAN UNDER 8.5 (+100).
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