Braves Start on Right Foot
The Atlanta Braves are popular among MLB picks to win the World Series, and they showed why on Opening Day. They have a complete offense, and their pitching staff, from the starters to the bullpen, will lockdown a lot of games.
Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals are in rebuilding mode and will push 100 losses. But on any given day, they are a threat to be a profitable MLB bet with a surprise win.
Strider Set to Make Season Debut
The Atlanta Braves have one of the best rotations, including Spencer Strider, who will start on the mound Saturday. In his rookie season last year, he was 11-5 with a 2.67 ERA making 20 starts and 31 appearances. He was electric with 202 strikeouts in 131.2 innings pitched.
He really bolstered their MLB odds and was so good out of the bullpen that they inserted him into the starting rotation and saw his showing did not diminish as he added innings onto his workload. The Braves had baserunners in seemingly every inning and got production from top to bottom, including catcher Travis d’Arnaud with a 4-for-5 game with two runs scored and two RBIs.
A three-run outburst in the second inning was the difference in their Opening Day win, but another three-run margin in the ninth inning was enough to hold off the Nationals on the road and get a start atop the National League East.
Gray Out to Prove He Is Better Than Advertised
Josiah Gray was one of two players the Washington Nationals acquired when they traded Trea Turner and Max Scherzer to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gray’s first 40 starts in Washington have not been great, as he is 9-12 with a 5.11 ERA, though he has 217 strikeouts in 211.1 innings. He will look to get a better start Saturday against a potent lineup, especially after he led baseball in walks and home runs allowed last season.
Keibert Ruiz, the catcher acquired in that trade, had the lone extra-base hit with a double on Thursday. Otherwise, it was Joey Meneses and Alex Call driving in two other teammates for their only runs of the game.
It will be an uphill climb after a long fall from winning the World Series in 2019. It will not surprise anyone if there is MLB news at the trade deadline that the Nationals are looking to unload more veteran players to accelerate their rebuild.
Braves vs Nationals Game Injuries
Braves vs Nationals Head-to-Head
Scores and odds show the Atlanta Braves have won 412 games to the Washington Nationals’ 371 wins in the all-time series. The Braves have a 52.6% winning percentage in that span.
The Braves have won three of the last four and seven of the last ten straight up. The under is 5-5 in those ten games.
Braves vs Nationals Game Information
- Game: Braves (1-0) vs Nationals (0-1)
- Location: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
- Day/Time: Saturday, April 1, 4:05 p.m. ET
- Braves vs Nationals Live stream: MLB.tv
Braves vs Nationals Betting Lines
Braves vs Nationals Picks and Prediction
The Braves have one of the best lineups, and the MLB lines will reflect that. They could easily hit the over alone, especially if Gray digs himself a hole by walking hitters and getting the Nationals behind early.
Strider has been electric, and he keeps his walks and home runs allowed down. Having the self-control to limit baserunners is an elite trait for a pitcher. Plus, Strider is only 24 years old, a year younger than Gray, who is a former top prospect.
For game story purposes, the Nationals will need a low-scoring game to secure their first win of the season. Being able to scratch a run across with some speed will be key, and this pitching matchup just might do it. But we’ll take the Braves.
The Atlanta Braves are listed at -280 in our Vegas NBA lines. If you wager $100 on the Braves, you can win $36. The Washington Nationals are +230, offering a chance to win $230X on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Braves a 73.68% chance to win, with the Nationals at 30.30%.
Braves vs Nationals Trends
Braves vs Nationals Edge
Braves vs Nationals Results
Braves vs Nationals Game Summary
