LA Dodgers (56-46) at Atlanta (54-44)
When: Thursday, July 26th 2018
Where: SunTrust Park, Cumberland, GA
Time: 7:35 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -125/9
The Los Angeles Dodgers failed to take down the National League East leaders this week and will now take aim at the second place team in that division when they open a four-game series with the Atlanta Braves and SunTrust Park. The Dodgers took the opener at Philadelphia on Monday, but the Phillies came back with back-to-back wins including a 16-inning marathon that saw L.A infielder Kike Hernandez allow a walk-off three-run home run. Max Muncy continued his surprising season by blasting his 24th home run in 250 at-bats this year in Wednesday’s 7-3 loss at Philadelphia and is just one shy of the National League lead as the Dodgers arrive in Atlanta holding a one-half game lead over Arizona in the NL West. The Dodgers lead the NL with 139 dingers, although 98 have been solo shots, and Muncy enters the series having reached base safely in 45 of his last 50 games. The Braves, who trail the Phillies by 1.5 games in the East, open a seven-game homestand Thursday. Atlanta owns a 4.29 bullpen ERA and will be looking to bolster that squad between now and Tuesday’s non-waiver trade deadline. Nick Markakis (.319) and Freddie Freeman (.318) are second and third, respectively, in the NL in hitting while the Braves rank second in the league in team batting at .261. Freeman brings an eight-game hitting streak into the series, batting .371 with seven RBIs while recording five multi-hit performances during the run.
Pitchers: Dodgers – Rich Hill (3-4, 4.26 ERA) | Braves – Anibal Sanchez (5-2, 2.76)
Rich Hill has been much better since coming off the disabled list in June, posting a 2.95 ERA while holding opponents to a .226 batting average in seven appearances (six starts). Hill will make his 260th career appearance on Thursday and struck out nine while holding Milwaukee to one run and five hits over six innings on Friday to earn the victory. He defeated the Braves last year in his first appearance against them since 2013.
Anibal Sanchez is coming off a solid performance in which he matched a season high with eight strikeouts at Washington on Friday. He held the Nationals to three runs and six hits in six innings to earn his third victory. Sanchez has posted a 2.68 ERA with 54 strikeouts and only 14 walks in nine starts since the beginning of June. He beat the Dodgers on June 9th at Dodger Stadium, allowing two runs and three hits over 5.1 innings to improve to 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA in six career meetings.
Sanchez already beat this team once this season and the Braves are 7-3 in his last 10 starts. I like the Braves as an underdog at home here against a tired Dodgers squad.
Pick: Braves +117
BETTING TRENDS:
- Dodgers are 16-5 in their last 21 games following a loss.
- Dodgers are 16-5 in their last 21 during game 1 of a series.
- Dodgers are 12-4 in their last 16 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Dodgers are 15-5 in their last 20 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Dodgers are 14-5 in their last 19 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Dodgers are 21-8 in their last 29 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Dodgers are 83-36 in their last 119 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Dodgers are 20-9 in their last 29 road games.
- Dodgers are 57-27 in their last 84 vs. National League East.
- Dodgers are 1-4 in their last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Dodgers are 8-0 in Hill’s last 8 starts vs. National League East.
- Dodgers are 4-1 in Hill’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Dodgers are 9-3 in Hill’s last 12 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Dodgers are 6-2 in Hill’s last 8 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Dodgers are 6-2 in Hill’s last 8 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Dodgers are 2-5 in Hill’s last 7 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Dodgers are 2-7 in Hill’s last 9 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Braves are 7-1 in their last 8 Thursday games.
- Braves are 7-3 in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Braves are 2-5 in their last 7 home games.
- Braves are 2-7 in their last 9 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Braves are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Braves are 1-6 in their last 7 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Braves are 5-1 in Sanchez’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Braves are 5-1 in Sanchez’s last 6 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Braves are 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Braves are 8-2 in Sanchez’s last 10 starts on grass.
- Braves are 8-3 in Sanchez’s last 11 starts.
- Over is 4-0 in Dodgers last 4 overall.
- Over is 4-0 in Dodgers last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-0 in Dodgers last 4 road games.
- Over is 4-0 in Dodgers last 4 on grass.
- Over is 4-0 in Dodgers last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 4-0 in Dodgers last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1 in Dodgers last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Over is 12-3-1 in Dodgers last 16 vs. National League East.
- Over is 5-2 in Dodgers last 7 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Dodgers last 8 Thursday games.
- Over is 2-0-2 in Hill’s last 4 Thursday starts.
- Over is 8-0 in Hill’s last 8 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 5-1 in Hill’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1 in Hill’s last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Over is 9-3 in Hill’s last 12 starts on grass.
- Over is 6-2 in Hill’s last 8 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 9-3 in Hill’s last 12 starts overall.
- Over is 5-2 in Hill’s last 7 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2 in Hill’s last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Braves last 4 overall.
- Under is 4-0 in Braves last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 4-0 in Braves last 4 on grass.
- Under is 5-0 in Braves last 5 vs. National League West.
- Under is 11-1 in Braves last 12 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Braves last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Over is 4-1 in Braves last 5 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Braves last 5 home games.
- Under is 4-1 in Braves last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 6-2 in Braves last 8 Thursday games.
- Under is 4-0 in Sanchez’s last 4 home starts.
- Under is 5-1 in Sanchez’s last 6 starts on grass.
- Under is 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Sanchez’s last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
- Dodgers are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Atlanta.
- Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings in Atlanta.
- Dodgers are 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
