Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Angels Prediction 8-1-23 MLB Picks

The Los Angeles Angels and the Atlanta Braves meet in game two of their three-game interleague set in MLB action from Truist Park on Tuesday night. The Angels drew first blood as sizeable underdogs on Monday, can they do it again here? Let’s dive in and find out.

Angels Pull Off Upset Monday

The Los Angeles Angels were treading water over the weekend against the Blue Jays, but won the series finale on Sunday and carried that into a 4-1 win over the Braves as big underdogs on Monday. The win brought the Angels to 56-51 on the year, sitting 4.5 games back in the AL West race and just three games back of the Blue Jays for the final Wild Card spot in the American League. Shohei Ohtani leads the Angels across the board, hitting .305 with 120 hits, 39 home runs and 81 RBIs while Hunter Renfroe has a team-high 25 doubles with 17 home runs and 47 RBIs this season. Ohtani also has a team-high 7 triples to lead the Angels in three-baggers this season. Patrick Sandoval will start this one for the Angels and is 6-7 with a 4.13 ERA and 81 strikeouts this season.

Los Angeles Angels Team Facts

• The Angels have lost 14 of their last 15 night games against National League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Angels have failed to cover the run line seven of their last eight night games against National League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Angels have won the first inning in five of their last seven games as underdogs.
• The Angels have led after 3 innings in five of their last seven games as underdogs.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Angels’ last four road games against National League opponents.

Los Angeles Angels Player Prop Facts

• Shohei Ohtani ranks 1st in the league in Home Runs (39) this season.

Braves Disappoint Again

The Atlanta Braves have been up and down for much of the second half of the season so far as we head into August, and Monday’s loss was another head-scratching performance. That being said, the Braves still sit at 67-37, which is still the best record in baseball and still 11 games clear of the Philadelphia Phillies atop the NL East division race. Ronald Acuna Jr. leads the Braves with 138 hits and a .333 batting average along with 51 stolen bases to lead MLB in that category. Acuna Jr. also has 24 homers and 61 RBIs while Matt Olson leads the Braves with 36 home runs and 89 RBIs this season. Ozzie Albies, Marcell Ozuna and Austin Riley make up the other three Braves bats with 20+ HR so far this season. Spencer Strider will start for the Braves here and is 11-3 with a 3.73 ERA and 199 strikeouts this season.

Atlanta Braves Team Facts

• The Braves have lost each of their last five games as favourites against American League opponents.
• The Braves have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven games against American League opponents following a home loss.
• The Braves have trailed after 3 innings in three of their last four games as favourites against American League opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Braves’ last four games as home favourites against AL West opponents.
• The Braves have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last five games as favourites against American League opponents.

Atlanta Braves Player Prop Facts

• Ronald Acuna Jr. ranks 1st in the league in Steals (51) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Atlanta Braves ranks 1st in the league for home runs this season (200).
• The Atlanta Braves ranks 1st in the league for slugging percentage this season (.494).
• The Los Angeles Angels ranks 3rd in the league for home runs this season (166).
• The Los Angeles Angels ranks 4th in the league for slugging percentage this season (.449).

Chris’ Pick

I have to look at the Angels in some capacity here. Whether that be +1.5 or taking them outright, I just can’t justify paying this kind of price. Against other teams with the Braves? Sure, but the Braves have disappointed often as of late, and the Angels are still a team that’s only 3 games out of a Wild Card spot with a record well above .500. Spencer Strider’s still a really good pitcher, but he’s been hittable in some of his recent outings and I think the Angels can at worst keep this one close. I’ll take the Angels +1.5 with a sprinkle on the ML as well.