Washington (22-32) at Atlanta (30-24)
When: Tuesday, May 28th, 2019
Where: SunTrust Park,
Cumberland, GA
Time: 7:20 ET | TV: MASN,
FS Southeast
Opening Odds: Atlanta -110/8.5
We are already two full months into the season and NL East-rivals the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves will be playing for the first time this season when they open a two-game series on Tuesday night in Cumberland, Georgia. Atlanta went 10-9 versus Washington in 2018 en route to the National League East title and are still chasing the Philadelphia Phillies in the division standings, while the Nationals are experiencing a very disappointing season. Washington is 10 games under .500 for the first time since 2011, but are coming off a winning weekend in which they took three of four from lowly Miami – not a huge confidence boost, but something to build on maybe. Juan Soto has been that Nats best hitter lately, batting .463 with six doubles, a triple, two homers and 11 RBIs during his current 11-game hitting streak. Atlanta will begin play on Tuesday 1.5 games behind the Phillies after a 5-2 road trip that was capped with a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday Night Baseball – a game we had on our MLB Free Picks page. Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson is riding a nine-game hitting streak with four homers and nine RBIs during it, and has only whiffed four times in 41 at-bats. Braves rookie Austin Riley is hitting .333 through his first 12 major-league games with two doubles, five homers, eight runs scored and 14 RBIs. This game will mark the beginning of a five-game homestand for Atlanta, which will also see Detroit come to town this weekend, while the Nationals will be in Cincinnati next.
Pitchers: Nationals – Stephen Strasburg (4-3, 3.25 ERA) | Braves – Max Fried (7-2, 2.88)
The pitching matchup is a good one with Stephen Strasburg taking the mound for Washington. The righty will be making his 12th start and has posted a career-best 0.99 WHIP while averaging 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings thus far. Strasburg surrendered two earned runs on five hits over seven innings last Thursday at the New York Mets but his team fell to 5-6 when he starts. He is 11-11 with a 4.07 ERA in 30 career starts against Atlanta.
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
Max Fried is also having a strong season, but is getting much better run support than Strasburg, thus Atlanta is 7-3 when he starts. Fried enters the week tied for the NL lead in wins while ranking sixth in ERA and 11th in WHIP (1.12). He has posted a 2.96 ERA in 10 starts since joining the rotation after two relief appearances. Fried, who allowed two runs on four hits across six innings Wednesday at San Francisco, has given up one run on two hits over three innings in two appearances (one start) against the Nationals.
I expected the Braves to be much bigger favorites in this one. They have the better pitcher going. The better team. And they’re playing at home. Washington has stunk all year, while the Braves are currently playing their best baseball. This is an easy call for me.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Tuesday. He is 69-43 +2012 units on the season after a 19-5 run!
Pick: Braves -107
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
BETTING TRENDS:
Nationals are 16-35 in their last 51 during game 1 of a series.
Nationals are 3-8 in their last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 2-6 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a loss.
Nationals are 1-7 in their last 8 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Nationals are 0-5 in their last 5 road games.
Nationals are 0-4 in their last 4 Tuesday games.
Nationals are 0-5 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Nationals are 10-2 in Strasburg’s last 12 Tuesday starts.
Nationals are 14-4 in Strasburg’s last 18 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 38-13 in Strasburg’s last 51 starts vs. National League East.
Nationals are 38-13 in Strasburg’s last 51 starts with 4 days of rest.
Nationals are 41-15 in Strasburg’s last 56 road starts.
Nationals are 71-29 in Strasburg’s last 100 starts.
Nationals are 71-29 in Strasburg’s last 100 starts on grass.
Nationals are 19-8 in Strasburg’s last 27 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 45-19 in Strasburg’s last 64 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Nationals are 29-13 in Strasburg’s last 42 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 31-15 in Strasburg’s last 46 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Braves are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. National League East.
Braves are 8-1 in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 games on grass.
Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
Braves are 10-4 in their last 14 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Braves are 5-2 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Braves are 35-17 in their last 52 vs. a team with a losing record.
Braves are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing record.
Braves are 0-5 in their last 5 games following an off day.
Braves are 0-6 in their last 6 Tuesday games.
Braves are 4-1 in Fried’s last 5 starts.
Braves are 4-1 in Fried’s last 5 starts on grass.
Braves are 1-4 in Fried’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 3-0-1 in Nationals last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 games following a loss.
Over is 4-1-2 in Nationals last 7 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 3-1-1 in Nationals last 5 Tuesday games.
Over is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 overall.
Over is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 on grass.
Over is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 vs. National League East.
Over is 15-7-1 in Nationals last 23 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 4-0 in Strasburg’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-1 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts with 4 days of rest.
Under is 4-1 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts on grass.
Over is 8-2 in Strasburg’s last 10 starts during game 1 of a series.
Over is 4-1 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts overall.
Under is 12-3 in Strasburg’s last 15 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 10-3 in Strasburg’s last 13 road starts.
Over is 14-6 in Strasburg’s last 20 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Over is 5-0 in Braves last 5 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Under is 6-1 in Braves last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 5-1 in Braves last 6 games following a win.
Over is 4-1 in Braves last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 4-1 in Braves last 5 vs. National League East.
Under is 7-2 in Braves last 9 overall.
Under is 7-2 in Braves last 9 on grass.
Over is 19-6-1 in Braves last 26 games following an off day.
Over is 7-3 in Braves last 10 vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 5-0 in Fried’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Over is 5-0 in Fried’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
Over is 4-0 in Fried’s last 4 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 5-1 in Fried’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 4-1 in Fried’s last 5 home starts.
Over is 6-2 in Fried’s last 8 starts on grass.
Over is 6-2 in Fried’s last 8 starts overall.
Under is 6-0 in Strasburg’s last 6 road starts vs. Braves.
Nationals are 5-1 in Strasburg’s last 6 road starts vs. Braves.
Over is 6-2-1 in the last 9 meetings.
Under is 5-2-1 in the last 8 meetings in Atlanta.
Nationals are 1-4 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts vs. Braves.
