Washington (50-44) at Atlanta (58-39)
When: Thursday, July 18th, 2019
Where: SunTrust Park,
Cumberland, Georgia
Time: 7:20 ET | TV: MASN,
FS Southeast
Opening Odds: Washington -105/9.5
The Washington Nationals have a big opportunity this weekend to prove they can compete for another National League East title when they visit the Atlanta Braves for four games beginning Thursday night. The Nationals have been slowly climbing up the standings and are within 6.5 games of the red-hot Braves entering Thursday’s series opener. Washington also owns the top wild card spot in the NL thanks to going 25-11 since June 1st despite dropping a 9-2 decision to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Outfielder Adam Eaton doubled home two runs in the loss and is 11-for-31 with four doubles in his past eight games, while outfielder Juan Soto boasts three homers, eight runs scored and eight walks in 11 games since July 1st. Atlanta is just as hot, going 40-19 since May 10th to open up their division lead but dropped two straight in Milwaukee this week, including a 5-4 defeat Wednesday as the Braves rallied from five runs down in the eighth inning. Third baseman Josh Donaldson homered in that rally and finished with four RBI to give him seven homers and 16 knocked-in over his past 11 games. Ronald Acuna has been excelling in the leadoff spot and is currently on a career-high 23 game on-base streak. Washington has won three of the five meetings thus far including a two-game sweep in Atlanta back in late May.
Pitchers: Nationals – Stephen Strasburg (11-4, 3.46 ERA) | Braves – Julio Teheran (5-6, 3.71)
Stephen Strasburg is tied for the NL lead with 11 wins and hasn’t allowed a run over his past two starts. He is 7-1 in his past eight starts with a 3.75 ERA including a win at Philadelphia last Friday in which he allowed seven hits in six scoreless innings while striking out six. He fanned 11 Braves hitters across seven innings in a win on May 28th, while also beating them three weeks later.
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The Braves have won each of Teheran’s last three starts but he’s come away with a no-decision in each outing. Teheran struck out six and walked just one while allowing three runs (two earned) in six innings Friday in San Diego. He is 6-6 with a 4.13 ERA in 21 career starts against Washington, but has yet to face them this season.
I’ll give the edge to Strasburg and the Nats in the series opener. Washington outscored the Braves 19-8 in winning both games in Atlanta this season and Strasburg was on the winning end of one of those.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Thursday. He is 93-64 +1883 units on the season after a 7-3 run!
Pick: Nationals -128
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BETTING TRENDS:
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 games following a loss.
Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 7-1 in their last 8 during game 1 of a series.
Nationals are 11-2 in their last 13 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Nationals are 17-4 in their last 21 vs. National League East.
Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 22-7 in their last 29 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 11-4 in their last 15 road games.
Nationals are 19-7 in their last 26 overall.
Nationals are 19-7 in their last 26 games on grass.
Nationals are 8-3 in their last 11 Thursday games.
Nationals are 5-2 in their last 7 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 5-2 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Nationals are 7-3 in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 4-0 in Strasburg’s last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
Nationals are 42-11 in Strasburg’s last 53 starts vs. National League East.
Nationals are 40-12 in Strasburg’s last 52 road starts.
Nationals are 20-6 in Strasburg’s last 26 starts with 5 days of rest.
Nationals are 20-6 in Strasburg’s last 26 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 39-14 in Strasburg’s last 53 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 78-30 in Strasburg’s last 108 starts.
Nationals are 78-30 in Strasburg’s last 108 starts on grass.
Nationals are 20-8 in Strasburg’s last 28 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 49-20 in Strasburg’s last 69 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Nationals are 35-16 in Strasburg’s last 51 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 35-16 in Strasburg’s last 51 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 15-7 in Strasburg’s last 22 Thursday starts.
Braves are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Braves are 8-2 in their last 10 games following a loss.
Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
Braves are 16-5 in their last 21 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Braves are 22-8 in their last 30 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Braves are 19-7 in their last 26 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Braves are 8-3 in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Braves are 20-8 in their last 28 vs. National League East.
Braves are 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Braves are 37-17 in their last 54 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Braves are 40-19 in their last 59 overall.
Braves are 40-19 in their last 59 games on grass.
Braves are 5-0 in Teheran’s last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Braves are 5-1 in Teheran’s last 6 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Braves are 5-1 in Teheran’s last 6 starts vs. National League East.
Braves are 13-3 in Teheran’s last 16 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Braves are 4-1 in Teheran’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Braves are 4-1 in Teheran’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Braves are 4-1 in Teheran’s last 5 home starts.
Braves are 7-2 in Teheran’s last 9 starts.
Braves are 7-2 in Teheran’s last 9 starts on grass.
Braves are 5-2 in Teheran’s last 7 starts with 4 days of rest.
Braves are 7-3 in Teheran’s last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-0 in Nationals last 6 road games.
Under is 6-0 in Nationals last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 6-0 in Nationals last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Under is 4-0-1 in Nationals last 5 games following a loss.
Under is 6-0 in Nationals last 6 vs. National League East.
Under is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 11-1 in Nationals last 12 overall.
Under is 11-1 in Nationals last 12 on grass.
Under is 8-1-3 in Nationals last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 7-1-1 in Nationals last 9 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 12-3-1 in Nationals last 16 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 6-2-3 in Nationals last 11 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 Thursday games.
Under is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 7-1-1 in Strasburg’s last 9 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 14-3-1 in Strasburg’s last 18 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-1-1 in Strasburg’s last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Over is 4-1-1 in Strasburg’s last 6 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 3-1-1 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts vs. National League East.
Over is 8-3 in Strasburg’s last 11 Thursday starts.
Under is 5-2 in Strasburg’s last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 9-4-1 in Strasburg’s last 14 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 11-5 in Strasburg’s last 16 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 34-16-1 in Strasburg’s last 51 road starts.
Under is 5-0-1 in Braves last 6 games following a loss.
Under is 8-0-1 in Braves last 9 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-0-1 in Braves last 7 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 6-1 in Braves last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 5-1 in Braves last 6 Thursday games.
Under is 5-1-1 in Braves last 7 home games.
Under is 4-1 in Braves last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 4-1-1 in Braves last 6 vs. National League East.
Under is 6-2-1 in Braves last 9 overall.
Under is 6-2-1 in Braves last 9 on grass.
Under is 7-3 in Braves last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-0 in Teheran’s last 4 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Under is 4-0 in Teheran’s last 4 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Teheran’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-1 in Teheran’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-1 in Teheran’s last 5 home starts.
Under is 4-1 in Teheran’s last 5 starts vs. National League East.
Over is 10-4-1 in Teheran’s last 15 Thursday starts.
Under is 20-8 in Teheran’s last 28 starts with 4 days of rest.
Nationals are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Atlanta.
Under is 6-0-1 in Strasburg’s last 7 road starts vs. Braves.
Nationals are 6-1 in Strasburg’s last 7 road starts vs. Braves.
Over is 5-1-1 in Teheran’s last 7 home starts vs. Nationals.
Over is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings in Atlanta.
Under is 3-1-1 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts vs. Braves.
Nationals are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
Nationals are 11-5 in Strasburg’s last 16 starts vs. Braves.
Braves are 4-10 in Teheran’s last 14 starts vs. Nationals.
Braves are 1-5 in Teheran’s last 6 home starts vs. Nationals.
