Saturday, August 20, 2016

Turner Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Max Scherzer vs. Tyrell Jenkins

The Washington Nationals head to Turner Field on Saturday to take on the Atlanta Braves. The probable pitchers are Max Scherzer for the Nationals and Tyrell Jenkins for the Braves. The opening line for this game has Washington at -238 and Atlanta at +219. The over/under is 7.5. The Nationals have a 58-55-7 over/under mark and a 62-58-0 run line record, meaning they cover 52% of the time. The Braves are 58-63-0 against the run line and have a 56-58-7 over/under record. They cover the spread 48% of the time.

The Nationals head into this game with a 71-49 record, and they are 35-26 on the road. Starting pitcher Max Scherzer has a 12-7 record with an ERA of 2.95 and a WHIP of 0.94. He has 211 strikeouts during his 167.2 innings pitched and he has given up 117 hits so far this year. He has surrendered 6.3 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.38. The bullpen this season has an earned run average of 3.13 and they have allowed 297 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .230 against the pen while they've been struck out 351 times and walked 116 times this year. As a unit, Washington has given up 7.72 base hits per nine innings while striking out 9.19 hitters per nine. They are 2nd in the Majors in team earned run average at 3.34. The Nationals pitchers have collectively given up 933 base hits and 404 earned runs. They have allowed 111 home runs this season and they allow 0.9 homers per nine innings as a staff. Washington as a pitching staff has walked 342 batters and struck out 1,110. They walk 2.8 men per 9 innings while striking out 9.2 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.17 and their FIP as a unit is 3.48.

As a team, Washington is hitting .253, good for 17th in the league while putting together a .257 average on the road. The Nationals have a .431 team slugging percentage and an OBP of .326 which is good for 11th in the league. They rank 17th in baseball with 8.62 hits per contest. Daniel Murphy comes into this game hitting .344 and his on-base percentage is at .386. He has 147 hits this season along with 73 runs scored and 87 runs batted in. He's struck out 48 times and has walked 27 times. Wilson Ramos is hitting .326 and he has an on-base percentage of .373. He has totaled 120 hits so far while scoring 53 runs and he's driven in 67. He has walked 29 times and has struck out 51 times. The Nationals have 1,034 hits, including 202 doubles and 159 home runs. They've stolen 81 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 29 times. Washington has walked 418 times this season and they've struck out 903 times as a unit. They've left 826 men on base and have a team OPS of .758. They score 4.8 runs per contest and have scored a total of 576 runs so far this year.

Atlanta comes into this game with a 18-42 home mark and a 44-77 overall record. With an ERA of 4.89, Tyrell Jenkins has a 2-3 record and a 1.61 WHIP. He has 21 strikeouts over the 46 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 44 hits. He has allowed 8.6 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 6.52. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.16 and they have given up 401 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .251 against the Braves bullpen while being struck out 403 times and walking 205 times this season. As a team, Atlanta has allowed 8.67 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.51 batters per nine. They are 22nd in the league in team earned run average at 4.44. The Braves pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,050 base knocks and 538 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 132 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Atlanta as a staff has walked 432 hitters and struck out 910. They give up a walk 3.6 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.5 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.36 while their FIP as a staff is 4.38.

As a team, they are batting .244, good for 26th in the league while putting together a .247 average at home. The Braves hold a .363 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .307 which is good for 27th in baseball. They rank 24th in baseball with 8.31 hits per contest. Freddie Freeman comes into this matchup batting .288 and he has an OBP of .383. He has 129 hits this year along with 69 runs scored and 56 RBI. He's struck out 131 times and has walked on 62 occasions. Nick Markakis is hitting .270 and he has an OBP of .342. He has collected 122 hits so far while he's scored 46 runs and drove in 65. He has earned a walk 52 times and has punched out 79 times. The Braves as a unit have 1,005 base hits, including 207 doubles and 81 homers. They have 56 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 26 times. Atlanta as a team has walked 349 times this year and they have struck out 911 times. They've had 852 men left on base and have an OPS of .671. They score 3.55 runs per game and have totaled 429 runs so far this season.

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

The Washington Nationals are 58-55-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Washington Nationals are 62-58-0 against the run line so far this season

Atlanta Braves Betting Trends

The Atlanta Braves are 56-58-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Atlanta Braves are 58-63-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Washington Nationals

08/19/16 C Jose Lobaton Elbow 15-day DL (7/20); expected to be activated Friday vs. Atlanta Braves
08/19/16 1B Ryan Zimmerman Wrist 15-day DL (8/1); expected to be activated Friday vs. Atlanta Braves
08/18/16 P Sammy Solis Shoulder 15-day DL (8/16)
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)

Atlanta Braves

08/19/16 P Julio Teheran Side 15-day DL (7/31); expected to be activated & start Friday vs. Washington Nationals
08/17/16 C A.J. Pierzynski Hamstring 15-day DL (8/17)
08/09/16 P Chris Withrow Elbow 15-day DL (8/5)
08/01/16 P Matt Marksberry Shoulder 15-day DL (7/31)
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

Tony'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 Tony Sink