Atlanta (44-32) at Washington (37-38)
When: Saturday, June 22nd, 2019
Where: Nationals Park,
Washington, DC
Time: 7:15 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Washington -135/10.5
The Atlanta Braves are the betting favorites to take the National League East crown, but don’t tell that to the Washington Nationals, who are playing some of the league’s best baseball right now. That Nationals improved to 3-0 versus the Braves in 2019 after a series-opening 4-3 victory on Friday to pull them to within 6.5 games of first place Atlanta. Washington has quietly won 18 of their last 25 and are just two games behind the reeling Philadelphia Phillies for second place in the division. Outfielder Juan Soto is heating up with his team and had another great day at the plate on Friday, finishing 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored to raise his batting average to .376 with 10 doubles, five homers, 19 RBI and 27 runs scored since May 17th. Yan Gomes went deep for the Nationals, were just 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position but benefited from two costly defensive misplays by the Braves. Atlanta was 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and lost for just the fifth time in 17 road games, while dropping to 14-5 in June. Rookie sensation Austin Riley hit his 12th homer in 34 games to give the Braves a major league-leading 40 this month. Freddie Freeman drove in a run for the ninth consecutive game, tying a team record. Oddsmakers are not a fan of tonight’s pitchers – Mike Foltynewicz and Anibal Sanchez – as the total is set at 10.5 with the Nationals as -125 favorites.
Pitchers: Braves – Mike Foltynewicz (2-5, 5.53 ERA) | Nationals – Anibal Sanchez (3-6, 3.84)
Foltynewicz had his best outing since May 24th last time out against Philadelphia, allowing one run and four hits in six innings to pick up just his second victory of the season. He did issues five walks in that game, giving him nine in his last two outings after walking just one total in his previous four starts. Foltynewicz, who has not allowed a homer in his last two outings, is 5-4 with a 4.02 ERA in 11 career starts against the Nationals.
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Sanchez has been lights-out in his last four starts since returning from a left hamstring strain, and Washington has won all four of those games. He is 3-0 with a 1.54 ERA and three walks over 23.1 innings during that span and shut down the Braves back on May 29th, limiting them to one hit and zero runs in six innings of work. Sanchez, who pitched in 25 games (24 starts) for the Braves last year, struck out 17 Atlanta hitters back in 2013 as a member of the Detroit Tigers.
Overall, I think Foltynewicz is the better pitcher than Sanchez, but not right now. Foltynewicz did have a good outing last time out, but if you’ve seen the way the Phillies are hitting lately, it’s not that impressive. He still walked five hitters in that game, and that’s a problem. I’ve never been a big fan of Sanchez, but I can’t ignore what he’s done lately, nor can I ignore how the Nats are playing.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Saturday. He is 80-55 +1628 units on the season after a 30-17 run!
Pick: Nationals -125
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BETTING TRENDS:
Braves are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Braves are 9-2 in their last 11 vs. a team with a losing record.
Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 games following a loss.
Braves are 11-3 in their last 14 overall.
Braves are 11-3 in their last 14 games on grass.
Braves are 10-3 in their last 13 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Braves are 10-4 in their last 14 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
Braves are 5-2 in their last 7 Saturday games.
Braves are 12-5 in their last 17 road games.
Braves are 12-5 in their last 17 vs. National League East.
Braves are 6-1 in Foltynewicz’s last 7 starts vs. National League East.
Braves are 3-9 in Foltynewicz’s last 12 starts.
Braves are 3-9 in Foltynewicz’s last 12 starts on grass.
Braves are 0-4 in Foltynewicz’s last 4 starts with 5 days of rest.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 6-0 in their last 6 vs. National League East.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 games following a win.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 overall.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 games on grass.
Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 home games.
Nationals are 6-1 in their last 7 Saturday games.
Nationals are 6-2 in their last 8 during game 2 of a series.
Nationals are 8-3 in their last 11 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Nationals are 5-2 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Nationals are 5-0 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts.
Nationals are 5-0 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts on grass.
Nationals are 5-1 in Sanchez’s last 6 home starts.
Under is 5-0 in Braves last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 6-1 in Braves last 7 during game 2 of a series.
Over is 5-1 in Braves last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Over is 14-3-1 in Braves last 18 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 21-7-1 in Braves last 29 vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 12-4-1 in Braves last 17 vs. National League East.
Over is 19-7-1 in Braves last 27 overall.
Over is 19-7-1 in Braves last 27 on grass.
Over is 8-3 in Braves last 11 Saturday games.
Over is 5-2 in Braves last 7 games following a loss.
Under is 11-5-1 in Braves last 17 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 4-1 in Foltynewicz’s last 5 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 4-1 in Foltynewicz’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Over is 4-1 in Foltynewicz’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 3-1-1 in Foltynewicz’s last 5 Saturday starts.
Under is 5-2 in Foltynewicz’s last 7 road starts.
Over is 7-3-1 in Foltynewicz’s last 11 starts on grass.
Over is 7-3-1 in Foltynewicz’s last 11 starts overall.
Under is 11-5-2 in Foltynewicz’s last 18 starts during game 2 of a series.
Over is 13-6 in Foltynewicz’s last 19 starts with 5 days of rest.
Under is 4-1-1 in Nationals last 6 Saturday games.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Over is 13-6-1 in Nationals last 20 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts on grass.
Under is 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts during game 2 of a series.
Over is 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts overall.
Under is 5-2 in Sanchez’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 7-3-2 in the last 12 meetings.
Over is 18-8-1 in the last 27 meetings in Washington.
Braves are 17-36 in the last 53 meetings in Washington.
Braves are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings.
