The Atlanta Braves open as underdogs again vs Washington this afternoon. Atlanta holds a six-game lead over Washington in the standings, a 7-4 lead in the season series and have won five of their last six games against the Nats. The x-factor, of course, is all-star starting pitcher Max Scherzer on the bump for the Nats, although Atlanta counter with their own all-star hurler, Mike Foltynewicz.
- The total has gone UNDER in seven of the last eight meetings between these clubs.
- Atlanta is 5-1 ATS and SU in their last six games vs Washington.
- Washington is 14-6 SU when Max Scherzer starts this season.
To see the Braves-Nationals matchup page, click here.
Mound Matchup
Max Scherzer (12-5, 2.41 ERA) has started two games vs the Braves this year, April 5 and April 9, going 1-1. The Nationals' ace has the best WHIP in the National League (0.90) and the third-best ERA on the senior circuit. He has started 13 games for Washington vs Atlanta since 2015 with the Nats going 9-4 SU and 8-5 ATS in those games. Even though Washington is 14-6 SU in Scherzer's 20 starts, hundred dollar bettors have profited just $120 on his starts this year.
Mike Foltynewicz (7-5, 2.66) will see his first mound action since the All-Star game. After allowing just three total earned runs in five starts from June 1 to July 1, Foltynewicz gave up five earned runs in each of his last two starts before the break vs Milwaukee and Toronto. This will be his fourth start of the year against Washington with the Braves going 2-1 SU in the first three. In his last seven starts against the Nationals, the UNDER has hit five times.
Hot-Lanta
The Braves continue to get contributions throughout the lineup and are led by NL MVP candidate Freddie Freeman. He has 15 hits in his last nine games, with multi-hit games in five of those contests. Freeman is hitting .330 on the road vs .299 at home.
Nick Markakis leads the National League in batting average (.323) and hits (121) as he continues his career year. As a team, the Braves are hitting .259 in 2018, tied for second overall in the NL.
Tough Call For Totals Bettors
The total for this game is set at 7.5. The UNDER has hit in seven of the last eight meetings between Atlanta and Washington, including seven in a row, until Friday night when the total was 13.
The average combined score in Max Scherzer's starts this year is 7.75, albeit that number is inflated due to some massive offensive output (12, 14, and 18 runs for) from Washington in three of those games. The UNDER has hit in seven of Scherzer's last nine starts.
The average combined score in games that Mike Foltynewicz has started for Atlanta is 8.2, with the OVER hitting in four of his last five starts.
