Saturday, August 13, 2016

Nationals Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Robert Whalen vs. Reynaldo Lopez

The Atlanta Braves visit Nationals Park on Saturday to play the Washington Nationals. The probable starters are Robert Whalen for the Braves and Reynaldo Lopez for the Nationals. The opening line for this matchup has Atlanta at +168 and Washington at -178. The over/under was set at 8. The Braves have a 51-57-7 over/under record and a 56-59-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 49% of the time. The Nationals are 60-53-0 against the run line and have a 53-53-7 over/under record. They cover the spread 53% of the time.

The Braves head into this matchup with a 43-72 record, including 25-33 on the road. Starting pitcher Robert Whalen has a 1-0 record with an earned run average of 5.73 and a WHIP of 1.27. He has 12 strikeouts over his 11 innings pitched and he has given up 9 hits so far this season. He has allowed 7.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 5.22. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.98 and they have given up 370 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .245 against the bullpen while being struck out 387 times and walking 189 times this season. As a team, Atlanta has allowed 8.58 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.53 batters per nine. They are 21st in the league in team earned run average at 4.34. The Braves pitchers have collectively given up 990 base hits and 500 earned runs. They have allowed 126 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Atlanta as a pitching staff has walked 403 batters and struck out 868. They walk 3.5 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.5 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.34 and their FIP as a unit is 4.34.

As a team, Atlanta is batting .244, good for 25th in the league while putting together a .240 average away from home. The Braves hold a .361 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .308 which is good for 25th in baseball. They rank 24th in baseball with 8.34 hits per game. Freddie Freeman comes into this game hitting .281 and his on-base percentage is at .371. He has 121 hits this season along with 63 runs scored and 49 runs batted in. He's struck out 128 times and has walked 55 times. Nick Markakis is hitting .274 and he has an on-base percentage of .348. He has totaled 118 hits so far while scoring 45 runs and he's driven in 62. He has walked 50 times and has struck out 73 times. The Braves have 959 hits, including 194 doubles and 75 home runs. They've stolen 56 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 26 times. Atlanta has walked 330 times this season and they've struck out 869 times as a unit. They've left 813 men on base and have a team OPS of .669. They score 3.54 runs per contest and have scored a total of 407 runs so far this year.

Washington comes into this matchup with a 34-22 home record and a 67-46 overall mark. With an earned run average of 9.35, Reynaldo Lopez has a 0-1 record and a 2.31 WHIP. He has 13 strikeouts over the 8.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 14 hits. He has allowed 14.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.71. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 2.99 and they have given up 276 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .230 against the Nationals bullpen while being struck out 336 times and walking 105 times this season. As a team, Washington has allowed 7.64 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.33 batters per nine. They are 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 3.21. The Nationals pitchers as a team have surrendered 871 base knocks and 366 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 104 home runs this year and they give up 0.9 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Washington as a staff has walked 318 hitters and struck out 1,064. They give up a walk 2.8 times per 9 innings while they strike out 9.3 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.16 while their FIP as a staff is 3.41.

As a team, they are batting .252, good for 17th in the league while putting together a .247 average at home. The Nationals hold a .428 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .325 which is good for 14th in baseball. They rank 17th in baseball with 8.56 hits per contest. Daniel Murphy comes into this matchup batting .346 and he has an OBP of .385. He has 140 hits this year along with 67 runs scored and 82 RBI. He's struck out 45 times and has walked on 23 occasions. Wilson Ramos is hitting .336 and he has an OBP of .384. He has collected 117 hits so far while he's scored 52 runs and drove in 63. He has earned a walk 28 times and has punched out 48 times. The Nationals as a unit have 967 base hits, including 190 doubles and 149 homers. They have 76 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 29 times. Washington as a team has walked 392 times this year and they have struck out 860 times. They've had 776 men left on base and have an OPS of .753. They score 4.69 runs per game and have totaled 530 runs so far this season.

Atlanta Braves Betting Trends

The Atlanta Braves are 51-57-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Atlanta Braves are 56-59-0 against the run line so far this season

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

The Washington Nationals are 53-53-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Washington Nationals are 60-53-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Atlanta Braves

08/11/16 P Joel De La Cruz Knee left last start, "?" for next start
08/09/16 P Chris Withrow Elbow 15-day DL (8/5)
08/02/16 P Julio Teheran Back 15-day DL (7/31)
08/01/16 P Matt Marksberry Shoulder 15-day DL (7/31)
07/16/16 P Arodys Vizcaino Oblique 15-day DL (7/15)
07/12/16 C Tyler Flowers Hand 15-day DL (7/10)
06/28/16 P John Gant Oblique 15-day DL (6/27)
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

Washington Nationals

08/11/16 RF Bryce Harper Neck "?" Friday vs. Atlanta Braves
08/07/16 1B Ryan Zimmerman Wrist 15-day DL (8/1)
07/30/16 C Jose Lobaton Elbow 15-day DL (7/20)
07/27/16 2B Stephen Drew Vertigo 15-day DL (7/24)
07/03/16 P Joe Ross Shoulder 15-day DL (7/3)
03/31/16 P Aaron Barrett Elbow 60-day DL (4/1)

Guy's Pick: Take the Braves

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Guy Bruhn