Monday, April 11, 2016

Nationals Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Bud Norris vs. Max Scherzer

The Atlanta Braves visit Nationals Park on Monday to play the Washington Nationals. The probable starters are Bud Norris for the Braves and Max Scherzer for the Nationals. The opening line for this matchup has Atlanta at +253 and Washington at -283. The over/under was set at 7. The Braves have a 2-1-1 over/under record and a 1-3-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 25% of the time. The Nationals are 1-2-0 against the run line and have a 1-1-1 over/under record. They cover the spread 33% of the time.

The Braves head into this matchup with a 0 - 4 record, including 0-0 on the road. Starting pitcher Bud Norris held a 3 - 11 record with an earned run average of 6.72 and a WHIP of 1.58 last season. He had 71 strikeouts over his 83 innings pitched and he also gave up 100 hits over that time period. He allowed 10.8 hits per 9 innings and he had a FIP of 5.04. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 6.08 and they have given up 17 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .293 against the bullpen while being struck out 17 times and walking 8 times this season. As a team, Atlanta has allowed 9.97 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.51 batters per nine. They are 25th in the league in team earned run average at 5.35. The Braves pitchers have collectively given up 41 base hits and 22 earned runs. They have allowed 6 home runs this season and they allow 1.5 homers per nine innings as a staff. Atlanta as a pitching staff has walked 18 batters and struck out 35. They walk 4.4 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.5 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.60 and their FIP as a unit is 5.11.

As a team, Atlanta is batting .167, good for 30th in the league. The Braves hold a .222 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .264 which is good for 28th in baseball. They rank 30th in baseball with 5.25 hits per game. Freddie Freeman comes into this game hitting .154 and his on-base percentage is at .313. He has 2 hits this season along with 1 run scored and 2 runs batted in. He's struck out 5 times and has walked 2 times. Adonis Garcia is hitting .308 and he has an on-base percentage of .438. He has totaled 4 hits so far while scoring 2 runs and he's driven in 2. He has walked 3 times and has struck out 4 times. The Braves have 21 hits, including 1 double, 0 triples, and 2 home runs. They've stolen 2 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 1 time. Atlanta has walked 16 times this season and they've struck out 35 times as a unit. They've left 24 men on base and have a team OPS of .486. They score 2.5 runs per contest and have scored a total of 10 runs so far this year.

Washington comes into this matchup with a 0-1 home record and a 2 - 1 overall mark. With an earned run average last season of 2.79, Max Scherzer had a 14 - 12 record and a 0.92 WHIP. He had 276 strikeouts over the 228.2 innings he pitched during which he gave up 176 hits. He allowed 6.9 hits per nine innings and his FIP stood at 2.77. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 2.45 and they have given up 7 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .179 against the Nationals bullpen while being struck out 12 times and walking 4 times this season. As a team, Washington has allowed 8.04 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.36 batters per nine. They are 7th in the league in team earned run average at 2.89. The Nationals pitchers as a team have surrendered 25 base knocks and 9 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 2 home runs this year and they give up 0.6 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Washington as a staff has walked 12 hitters and struck out 26. They give up a walk 3.9 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.4 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.32 while their FIP as a staff is 3.81.

As a team, they are batting .214, good for 25th in the league while putting together a .188 average at home. The Nationals hold a .369 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .317 which is good for 16th in baseball. They rank 24th in baseball with 7.33 hits per contest. Bryce Harper comes into this matchup batting .300 and he has an OBP of .500. He has 3 hits this year along with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI. He's struck out 0 times and has walked on 4 occasions. Yunel Escobar is hitting .211 and he has an OBP of .318. He has collected 4 hits so far while he's scored 3 runs and drove in 2. He has earned a walk 3 times and has punched out 2 times. The Nationals as a unit have 22 base hits, including 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 3 homers. They have 2 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 1 time. Washington as a team has walked 16 times this year and they have struck out 27 times. They've had 26 men left on base and have an OPS of .686. They score 3.67 runs per game and have totaled 11 runs so far this season.

Atlanta Braves Betting Trends

The Atlanta Braves are 2-1-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Atlanta Braves are 1-3-0 against the run line so far this season

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

The Washington Nationals are 1-1-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Washington Nationals are 1-2-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Atlanta Braves

04/04/16 P Andrew McKiraha Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
04/04/16 P Manuel Banuelos Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
04/04/16 P Paco Rodrigue Elbow out for season
04/04/16 P Shae Simmons Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)

Washington Nationals

04/07/16 LF Ben Revere Oblique Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/5)
03/31/16 P Aaron Barrett Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/1)

Tony's Pick: Take the Nationals

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