Saturday, September 3, 2016

Citizens Bank Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: John Gant vs. Vince Velasquez

The Atlanta Braves visit Citizens Bank Park on Saturday to play the Philadelphia Phillies. The probable starters are John Gant for the Braves and Vince Velasquez for the Phillies. The opening line for this matchup has Atlanta at +148 and Philadelphia at -158. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Braves have a 65-61-8 over/under record and a 68-66-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 51% of the time. The Phillies are 68-65-0 against the run line and have a 66-63-4 over/under record. They cover the spread 51% of the time.

The Braves head into this matchup with a 51-83 record, including 29-39 on the road. Starting pitcher John Gant has a 1-3 record with an earned run average of 4.59 and a WHIP of 1.41. He has 33 strikeouts over his 33.1 innings pitched and he has given up 36 hits so far this season. He has allowed 9.7 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.81. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.26 and they have given up 453 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .253 against the bullpen while being struck out 448 times and walking 216 times this season. As a team, Atlanta has allowed 8.81 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.58 batters per nine. They are 26th in the league in team earned run average at 4.56. The Braves pitchers have collectively given up 1,181 base hits and 612 earned runs. They have allowed 152 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Atlanta as a pitching staff has walked 461 batters and struck out 1,016. They walk 3.4 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.6 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.36 and their FIP as a unit is 4.38.

As a team, Atlanta is batting .248, good for 23rd in the league while putting together a .244 average away from home. The Braves hold a .371 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .314 which is good for 22nd in baseball. They rank 22nd in baseball with 8.46 hits per game. Freddie Freeman comes into this game hitting .289 and his on-base percentage is at .389. He has 143 hits this season along with 81 runs scored and 69 runs batted in. He's struck out 142 times and has walked 73 times. Nick Markakis is hitting .266 and he has an on-base percentage of .340. He has totaled 134 hits so far while scoring 53 runs and he's driven in 73. He has walked 59 times and has struck out 87 times. The Braves have 1,134 hits, including 241 doubles and 93 home runs. They've stolen 61 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 30 times. Atlanta has walked 416 times this season and they've struck out 1,008 times as a unit. They've left 957 men on base and have a team OPS of .686. They score 3.8 runs per contest and have scored a total of 509 runs so far this year.

Philadelphia comes into this matchup with a 30-36 home record and a 60-73 overall mark. With an earned run average of 4.21, Vince Velasquez has a 8-6 record and a 1.36 WHIP. He has 144 strikeouts over the 124 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 124 hits. He has allowed 9 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.93. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.42 and they have given up 436 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .258 against the Phillies bullpen while being struck out 418 times and walking 157 times this season. As a team, Philadelphia has allowed 9.23 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.29 batters per nine. They are 24th in the league in team earned run average at 4.55. The Phillies pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,208 base knocks and 595 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 178 home runs this year and they give up 1.4 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Philadelphia as a staff has walked 364 hitters and struck out 1,085. They give up a walk 2.8 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.3 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.33 while their FIP as a staff is 4.28.

As a team, they are batting .238, good for 29th in the league while putting together a .224 average at home. The Phillies hold a .385 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .296 which is good for 30th in baseball. They rank 29th in baseball with 7.95 hits per contest. Odubel Herrera comes into this matchup batting .282 and he has an OBP of .359. He has 137 hits this year along with 68 runs scored and 42 RBI. He's struck out 109 times and has walked on 56 occasions. Cesar Hernandez is hitting .288 and he has an OBP of .351. He has collected 126 hits so far while he's scored 51 runs and drove in 34. He has earned a walk 44 times and has punched out 93 times. The Phillies as a unit have 1,058 base hits, including 190 doubles and 134 homers. They have 72 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 35 times. Philadelphia as a team has walked 333 times this year and they have struck out 1,084 times. They've had 830 men left on base and have an OPS of .681. They score 3.7 runs per game and have totaled 492 runs so far this season.

Atlanta Braves Betting Trends

The Atlanta Braves are 65-61-8 against the over/under so far this season

The Atlanta Braves are 68-66-0 against the run line so far this season

Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends

The Philadelphia Phillies are 66-63-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Philadelphia Phillies are 68-65-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Atlanta Braves

09/02/16 P Eric O'Flaherty Elbow 60-day DL (8/18)
08/31/16 P Arodys Vizcaino Shoulder 15-day DL (8/29)
08/26/16 P Rob Whalen Shoulder 15-day DL (8/25)
08/01/16 P Matt Marksberry Shoulder 15-day DL (7/31)
06/20/16 LF Mallex Smith Thumb 60-day DL (6/20)
06/08/16 P Williams Perez Rotator Cuff 60-day DL (6/7)
04/12/16 P Daniel Winkler Elbow 60-day DL (4/11)
04/04/16 P Andrew McKirahan Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Paco Rodriguez Elbow out for season

Philadelphia Phillies

08/17/16 P Aaron Nola Elbow 60-day DL (7/29); out for season
08/09/16 P Zach Eflin Knee 60-day DL (8/9); out for season
07/26/16 2B Andres Blanco Finger 15-day DL (7/25)
05/01/16 P Dalier Hinojosa Hand 15-day DL (4/29)
04/24/16 P Charlie Morton Hamstring 60-day DL (4/24); out for season
03/31/16 P Matt Harrison Back 60-day DL (4/2)

Guy's Pick: Take the Braves

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