Braves vs. Phillies Prediction
The Atlanta Braves managed to keep their grasp on first place in the NL East with a win Tuesday night at the Philadelphia Phillies. Can Atlanta secure another win tonight and put a further distance between them and second-place Philadelphia?
Game Snapshot
955 Atlanta Braves at 956 Philadelphia Phillies
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Citizens Bank Park at 7:05PM ET
TV: NBCSP (PHI)
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Phillies are a -129 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Braves are a +119 underdog, while the total is set at 8 runs. As of Wednesday morning, 53 percent of public bets are coming in on host Philadelphia. Check out our MLB Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Albies lifts Braves offense
Atlanta second baseman and leadoff hitter Ozzie Albies was outstanding Tuesday night as he went 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk. He scored all three Braves runs. Ronald Acuna Jr. was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Freddie Freeman also finished 2-for-5, while Tyler Flowers went 2-for-3 with a walk. Brandon McCarthy notched the win on the mound as he gave up one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks over 5 2/3 innings. Arodys Vizcaino pitched a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout for his ninth save.
Luiz Gohara (0-0, 1.29 ERA) draws the start for the Braves today.
Franco accounts for lone run
The Phillies could not get much going offensively Tuesday in the 3-1 loss, but Maikel Franco had a decent day at the plate by going 2-for-4 and scoring the only run. Cesar Hernandez drove in Franco with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 2-1. Atlanta scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Carlos Santana went 2-for-3 with a walk, while Scott Kingery and Odubel Herrera each added a double. Vince Velasquez took the loss as he surrendered two riuns (one earned) on six hits with nine strikeouts and three walks over 4 1/3 innings.
Jake Arrieta (3-2, 2.82 ERA) will start today for Philadelphia.
MLB Betting Trends
Atlanta
The Braves are 14-3 in their last 17 road games. Atlanta is 10-4 in its last 14 games overall.
Philadelphia
The Phillies are 5-11 in the last 16 meetings. The under is 8-2 in the last 10 Philadelphia games.
Prediction:
Gohara has a bright future, but the Phillies should be able to take advantage of his inexperience here. Arrieta has pitched in plenty of big games over the last several seasons, so this regular season affair is nothing out of the ordinary for him. Philadelphia needs to stay within striking distance of Atlanta and more losses could quickly drop it to third place beihind Washington. I think the Phillies will treat this game with the importance it needs and comes away with the victory.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES -129