The Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals meet Thursday in MLB action from Nationals Park. Here’s a Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves prediction. This will be the first installment in a four-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Atlanta Braves Betting Preview
The Braves played a quick two-game series versus the Boston Red Sox this week. Atlanta lost 8-3 Tuesday, then in game two the Braves were blown out 9-0. Starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach finished with 4.2 innings and six earned runs.
In the starter slot for the Thursday opener the Braves will go with Reynaldo Lopez. This year Lopez is 3-2 with a 1.73 ERA and 55 Ks in 57.1 innings over 10 starts. Lopez is 42-51 with a 4.12 ERA in 251 career games (107 starts.
Washington Nationals Betting Preview
Over on the Nationals’ side, they took on the New York Mets this week. Washington lost 8-7 Monday and 6-3 in the Tuesday matchup. In the finale the Nationals fell again in a 9-1 blowout. Starter Patrick Corbin lasted 5.1 innings with six earned on seven hits and a walk.
As starter for Thursday’s game the Nationals are sending out Mitchell Parker. In nine starts this year (the first nine of his career), Parker is 4-3 with a 3.60 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 50.0 frames. After this series, the Nats will meet the Tigers, Marlins, and Diamondbacks.
Braves vs Nationals Injury Notes
Braves catcher Sean Murphy (elbow) was out of the lineup for Wednesday’s finale in Boston.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the Braves’ last eight night games against NL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Nine of the Nationals’ last 12 home games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Nationals’ last eight home games against NL East opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Braves’ last five night games against NL East opponents.
Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts
- Jesse Winker has hit a home run in each of his two previous appearances at Nationals Park against NL East opponents that held a winning record.
- Joey Gallo has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Nationals’ last five home games.
- Luis Garcia has recorded at least one Single in each of his last eight home appearances against NL East opponents that held a winning record.
- Luis Garcia has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine home appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Luis Garcia has recorded at least one total base in each of his last nine home appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Eddie Rosario has scored at least one run in each of his four previous home appearances against the Braves after playing the previous day.
Atlanta Braves Player Prop Facts
- Marcell Ozuna has recorded at least one hit in each of the Braves’ last 18 night games.
- Marcell Ozuna has recorded at least one total base in each of the Braves’ last 18 night games.
- Travis d’Arnaud has recorded a Double in each of the Braves’ last three road games against NL opponents.
- Austin Riley has scored a run in each of the Braves’ last four games as road favorites against NL East opponents.
- Sean Murphy has recorded at least one RBI in six of his last seven road appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Ozzie Albies has recorded at least one Single in each of the Braves’ last eight games against the Nationals.
- Sean Murphy has hit a home run in three of his last four road appearances against NL East opponents that held a losing record.
Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Prediction
I’ll stay with the Braves. Lopez should be good for a quality start here if all goes well. In his last three starts combined Lopez is 1-1 with five earned runs on 14 hits and four walks over 17.0 innings. As for Parker, he’s given up a combined nine earned runs in 18.0 innings over his last three starts (three earned in each).
On Wednesday the Braves could only muster one hit in a great pitching performance across the board from the Red Sox. Atlanta had a pretty rough evening on both sides, so they’ll need a good bounce-back effort here.