Braves vs. Nationals Tuesday Prediction
The Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals open a pivotal series on Tuesday with a double-header. Here is our prediction for Game 2 of the series at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Game Snapshot & Odds
901 Atlanta Braves (+175) at 902 Washington Nationals (-208); 7.5 runs
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
7:05 p.m. ET, Nationals Park
TV: ATL (FSSO); WSH (MASN)
Compare odds and from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new Baseball Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Nationals as a -208 favorite. As of this writing, 52% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Nationals to beat the Braves on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Braves’ Newcomb falls one out shy of not-hitter vs. Dodgers
Sean Newcomb struck out eight batters and allowed just one hit over 8 2/3 innings in a 4-1 win over the Dodgers on Sunday. Newcomb took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, retiring 26 of the first 27 batters he faced. He had Chris Taylor down to his final strike before the no-hit bid was broken up on a ground ball single to the outfield with two outs in the frame. He was charged with an earned run after reliever Dan Winkler gave up a two-out RBI single to Manny Machado. Newcomb was in complete control from start to finish, throwing 81 of 134 pitches for strikes. The talented southpaw has battled persistent control issues throughout his sophomore campaign, but handed out just one free pass against the Dodgers, a leadoff walk to Yasiel Puig in the sixth inning. It was only the fourth time in 21 starts where he issued fewer than two walks. The 25-year-old right-hander is 10-5 with a 3.23 ERA and 110/57 K/BB ratio over 119 2/3 innings.
Nationals’ Scherzer punches out 10 in win over Reds
Max Scherzer struck out 10 while holding the Reds to two runs over six innings in a win Thursday. It wasn’t the smoothest outing Scherzer has had, needing 110 pitches to get through six innings and working hard to do it, but even on a night when he doesn’t have his A-plus stuff he’s still better than most pitchers in the league. Scherzer allowed four hits and walked two to go with his 10 strikeouts. He’s now rattled off five straight wins to move to 15-5 through 23 starts, owning a 2.33 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 210/38 K/BB ratio over 154 2/3 innings.
MLB Betting Trends
Atlanta
The Braves have won 35 of their last 52 games against the rest of the National League East.
Washington
The Nationals are 5-2 in their last seven divisional games.
Prediction:
The Nationals are 5-1 in Scherzer’s last six home starts versus the Braves and have won 10 of his last 13 outings overall against Atlanta. Meanwhile, the Braves are just 10-30 in their last 40 games played at Nationals Park, are 2-5 in Newcomb’s last seven starts and are 5-13 in his last 18 outings when facing a team with a winning record.
The Pick: Washington Nationals -1.5 (+105)