Will Braves Cash a Road Favorite?
The Atlanta Braves are preparing to duel the Washington Nationals on Opening Day to kickstart their 2023 campaign. For both teams, this Thursday matchup is an opportunity to set a precedent moving forward.
The MLB news talking heads and experts will be keeping a close eye on the Braves, who are expected to be a contender. Will they set the tone and deliver a win on the road or will they start the season on a sour note?
Max Fried Getting Nod for Atlanta
The Braves will give the ball to Max Fried, who’ll be making his third consecutive start on Opening Day for this team. He was phenomenal in 2021 when he was given the nod in the opener, pitching five innings and allowing two runs while striking out eight.
He fell flat in 2022 when he started on the first game with five allowed runs, though he ended that year with an excellent stat line. This time around, he’ll be hoping to start his season off hot.
Those who bet online have seen Fried three times in Spring Training and he’s looked sharp. He’s pitched 14.1 innings and has allowed just six hits. Along with those numbers, he’s also been able to strike out 19.
However, if you’re looking at the MLB betting lines here, note that he did just okay against the Nationals last year. He was 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA as the Nats batted .282 against him.
Patrick Corbin Will Counter For Nats
Coming into his 11th season, Patrick Corbin is the Nationals’ Opening Day starter. He’s the most experienced pitcher that the team currently has.
If you’re thinking about taking Washington with your MLB picks, note that he’s had some trouble containing the Braves. Over his career, Corbin is 6-10 with a 4.28 ERA when facing Atlanta. Last season, he was 0-3 with an ugly 9.20 ERA against them.
Overall, Corbin didn’t have a great season in 2022. He was 6-19 season with a 6.31 ERA as this team struggled. Most Las Vegas odds projections expect them to be rebuilding again.
Braves vs Nationals Game Injuries
Braves vs Nationals Head-to-Head
Atlanta owned the series of late, winning 14 of the last 19 meetings.
Braves vs Nationals Game Information
- Game: Braves (0-0) Nationals (0-0)
- Location: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
- Day/Time: Thursday, 1:05 p.m. ET
- Braves vs Nationals Live Stream: MLB.tv
Braves vs. Nationals Betting Lines
Braves vs Nationals Picks and Prediction
This is going to be an interesting game to see where the Nats are at but judging by the pitching matchups, the Braves should hold to the advantage. There’s a lot of juice to lay for your sports bets but at least on paper, the Braves should contender while the Nats should be bad.
Until we see otherwise, that’s what we’ll expect in this spot.
Atlanta is listed at -240 in our MLB lines. So, if you wager $100 on the Braves, there’s a chance to win $42. Washington is +200 with a chance to win $200 on a $100 wager. The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Braves a 70.59% chance to win, with the Nationals at 33.33%.
Braves vs Nationals Trends
Braves vs Nationals Edge
Braves vs Nationals Results
Braves vs Nationals Game Summary
