Atlanta (61-49) at Washington (58-55)
When: Wednesday, August 8th 2018
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Washington -120/9
The Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals are both chasing the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East, and both teams are starting to heat up. They will continue their four-game series after Tuesday’s double-header, when they meet Wednesday night on ESPN. The Nationals dominated the first game of the day-night DH Tuesday 8-3 as the Braves suffered two key pitching injuries in that contest. The nightcap went Atlanta’s way as they were able to hang tough against Washington ace Max Scherzer, getting a ninth-inning two-run triple from Ender Inciarte to win 3-1. The Braves, who began a stretch on Tuesday of playing 22 games in 20 days, lost starting pitcher Max Fried (groin) and reliever Shane Carle (shoulder) to injuries in the opener before Sean Newcomb went toe-to-toe with Scherzer in the nightcap, and Charlie Culberson recorded homers in both games of the doubleheader. After taking the opener, Washington pulled to within 3.5 games of Atlanta for second place in the National League East, but not only wasted a stellar Scherzer start but also saw closer Kelvin Herrera leave the game in the ninth inning with an undisclosed injury. The Nationals may have to turn to Greg Holland, who was signed before Tuesday’s doubleheader, and struck out the side with one walk in the opener. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman went 6-for-8 in the two games including teaming with Bryce Harper for back-to-back homers to help break open game one. Washington has won nine of its past 13 games while the Braves have captured seven of their past nine.
Pitchers: Braves – Mike Foltynewicz (8-7, 3.04 ERA) | Nationals – Tommy Milone (1-0, 3.00)
Mike Foltynewicz will get his 22nd start on Wednesday and is coming off an outing in which he allowed two runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts in six innings Thursday against the Mets, snapping a two-start losing streak. Foltynewicz had allowed four runs in each of his previous two starts, including a loss July 22nd at Washington in which he gave up nine hits in 5.2 innings.
Tommy Milone will get his third start of the season and has been solid through the first two. He has yet to walk a batter while striking out 15, giving up four runs on 11 hits across 12 innings in a no-decision against Miami and a victory over the Mets. Milone, who signed as a free agent last winter, went 7-4 with a 4.19 ERA in 20 starts at Triple-A Syracuse before being recalled.
I know the Nats have won both games Milone has starts, but they were against the Mets and Marlins. Foltynewicz is a much better pitcher and actually has a two-hit shutout to his credit against them this season. Last night’s victory over Scherzer was a big confidence boost for this Atlanta team. I say they carry that into tonight’s contest.
Pick: Braves +110
BETTING TRENDS:
- Braves are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Braves are 7-2 in their last 9 overall.
- Braves are 7-2 in their last 9 games on grass.
- Braves are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. National League East.
- Braves are 19-9 in their last 28 during game 3 of a series.
- Braves are 4-11 in their last 15 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Braves are 2-6 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Braves are 2-6 in their last 8 Wednesday games.
- Braves are 2-6 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Braves are 1-7 in their last 8 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Braves are 4-0 in Foltynewicz’s last 4 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Braves are 5-2 in Foltynewicz’s last 7 starts vs. National League East.
- Braves are 5-2 in Foltynewicz’s last 7 Wednesday starts.
- Braves are 5-11 in Foltynewicz’s last 16 road starts.
- Braves are 5-12 in Foltynewicz’s last 17 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Braves are 2-7 in Foltynewicz’s last 9 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Braves are 2-7 in Foltynewicz’s last 9 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Braves are 2-8 in Foltynewicz’s last 10 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 5-1 in their last 6 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Nationals are 7-2 in their last 9 home games.
- Nationals are 6-2 in their last 8 overall.
- Nationals are 6-2 in their last 8 games on grass.
- Nationals are 5-2 in their last 7 games following a loss.
- Nationals are 4-9 in their last 13 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 3-8 in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 3-9 in their last 12 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 2-6 in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Nationals are 6-0 in Milone’s last 6 starts vs. National League East.
- Nationals are 7-0 in Milone’s last 7 starts.
- Nationals are 6-0 in Milone’s last 6 starts on grass.
- Under is 4-0 in Braves last 4 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 5-0 in Braves last 5 during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 4-1 in Braves last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 4-1 in Braves last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 9-3 in Braves last 12 Wednesday games.
- Under is 8-3 in Braves last 11 overall.
- Under is 8-3 in Braves last 11 on grass.
- Under is 5-2 in Braves last 7 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 10-4 in Braves last 14 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Over is 21-9 in Braves last 30 road games.
- Over is 8-1-1 in Foltynewicz’s last 10 Wednesday starts.
- Over is 6-2 in Foltynewicz’s last 8 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Under is 6-2 in Foltynewicz’s last 8 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 8-3-3 in Foltynewicz’s last 14 starts vs. National League East.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Foltynewicz’s last 8 starts on grass.
- Under is 5-2 in Foltynewicz’s last 7 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Foltynewicz’s last 8 starts overall.
- Under is 9-4-1 in Foltynewicz’s last 14 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 Wednesday games.
- Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 on grass.
- Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 home games.
- Under is 11-5 in Nationals last 16 during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 39-18 in Nationals last 57 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 15-7 in Nationals last 22 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Foltynewicz’s last 6 starts vs. Nationals.
- Under is 8-3-1 in the last 12 meetings.
- Over is 17-7 in the last 24 meetings in Washington.
- Braves are 11-31 in the last 42 meetings in Washington.
