The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies meet Thursday in MLB action from Citizens Bank Park. This will be the final installment in a three-game set between these teams this week. The Braves secured a four-run win on Tuesday, then in the Wednesday game Philly evened it up with a one-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Atlanta posted 12 team hits in the Tuesday victory, ultimately winning 9-5 from five eighth-inning runs. In the Wednesday game, the Braves had eight hits but only one run in a 2-1 defeat. Tucker Davidson went 6.0 innings with four hits and no earned.
For Thursday’s finale, the Braves are sending Ian Anderson to the mound in the start. Over his 59.1 innings this year, Anderson has 48 hits, 24 earned runs, six homers, 25 walks, 65 strikeouts and a 3.64 ERA.
Over on the Phillies’ side, they had a 5-4 lead going into the eighth inning Tuesday but couldn’t hold it in the loss. In the Wednesday game two, Philly posted two runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk it off. Zach Eflin went 6.0 innings with eight hits and one earned.
For the starting pitcher role Thursday, Philadelphia will send out Zack Wheeler. Over his 82.1 innings of work this year, Wheeler has 59 hits, 24 runs (23 earned), seven homers allowed, 18 walks, 100 Ks and a 2.51 ERA.
The Braves are 7-3 in their last 10 road games and 49-24 in their last 73 in game three of a series. The over is 35-17-6 in the Braves’ last 58 versus a team with a losing record and they’re 6-1 in their last seven with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Meanwhile, the Phillies are 2-5 in their last seven in game three of a series and 2-5 in their last seven with the total set at 6.5 or lower. The under is 4-0 in Philly’s last four Thursday games and 11-4 in their last 15 versus the NL East.
PICK: I’m going to stick with the Phillies. The Philly offense needs to get Wheeler some help, though. Over his last six starts, Wheeler has given up two or fewer earned runs in five and three in the other one. Trouble is, he’s near the bottom for run support among qualified pitchers. Anderson has been up and down himself and I like him to post a decent outing here, but I think Philly still has the edge.