Philadelphia (73-51) at Atlanta (66-58)
When: Tuesday, August 20th 2024
Where: Truist Park,
Cumberland, GA
Time: 7:20 ET | TV: MLB.tv
Opening Odds: Philadelphia -118/7.5
The National League East has been a two-team race all season, with the Philadelphia Phillies taking control last month and building a double-digit lead. After a recent slump, the Atlanta Braves have climbed back to within seven games and host the Phillies for a crucial three-game set beginning Tuesday night at Truist Park.
Atlanta will have to make due without one of its best players for the rest of the regular season, as Austin Riley suffered a fractured right hand after being hit by a pitch during Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Angels. He is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Riley is batting .256 with 19 home runs, 56 RBI and scored 63 runs, along with being a solid defensive infielder.
While Atlanta was completing a 6-4 road trip over the weekend, the Phillies went 4-2 on their six-game homestand against the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals. Philly failed to get the sweep when they lost 6-4 to the Nats. Atlanta took two-of-three in Philadelphia to open the season and did the same at Truist Park back in early July, outscoring the Phillies 11-1 over the final two games of that series.
Pitching Matchup
Phillies – Zack Wheeler (12-5, 2.72)
Braves – Reynaldo Lopez (7-4, 2.06)
Philly ace Zack Wheeler will get the series-opening nod and has dominated the Braves in his career. He has faced Atlanta 14 times since joining the Phillies in 2020, going 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA. He was the opening-day starter when he threw six scoreless innings against the Braves on March 29. Wheeler has allowed only four combined runs, and just three earned, over his last three starts.
Lopez will get his first start in three weeks because of right forearm inflammation. The Braves will take a cautious approach with Lopez, who has logged 104 2/3 innings – his most since 2019 when he was with the Chicago White Sox. Lopez is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) against Philadelphia, including a win on July 7.
The Braves have been battling injuries all season and the Riley one is a big blow. Wheeler has dominated the Braves and will have an easier time without Riley in the lineup. The Phillies have regained some confidence and will want to put this division away and focus on betting the top seed in the National League.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for today.
Pick: Phillies -120
