Sunday, August 21, 2016

Turner Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Gio Gonzalez vs. Joel De La Cruz

The Washington Nationals visit Turner Field on Sunday to play the Atlanta Braves. The probable starters are Gio Gonzalez for the Nationals and Joel De La Cruz for the Braves. The opening line for this matchup has Washington at -165 and Atlanta at +155. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Nationals have a 59-55-7 over/under record and a 62-59-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 51% of the time. The Braves are 59-63-0 against the run line and have a 57-58-7 over/under record. They cover the spread 48% of the time.

The Nationals head into this matchup with a 72-49 record, including 36-26 on the road. Starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez has a 8-9 record with an earned run average of 4.28 and a WHIP of 1.32. He has 129 strikeouts over his 136.2 innings pitched and he has given up 133 hits so far this season. He has allowed 8.8 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.97. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.13 and they have given up 300 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .230 against the bullpen while being struck out 354 times and walking 117 times this season. As a team, Washington has allowed 7.72 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.16 batters per nine. They are 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 3.35. The Nationals pitchers have collectively given up 940 base hits and 408 earned runs. They have allowed 113 home runs this season and they allow 0.9 homers per nine innings as a staff. Washington as a pitching staff has walked 346 batters and struck out 1,116. 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 3.50.

As a team, Washington is batting .254, good for 17th in the league while putting together a .258 average away from home. The Nationals hold a .431 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .327 which is good for 10th in baseball. They rank 17th in baseball with 8.64 hits per game. 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 .328 and he has an on-base percentage of .376. He has totaled 122 hits so far while scoring 53 runs and he's driven in 67. He has walked 30 times and has struck out 53 times. The Nationals have 1,046 hits, including 204 doubles and 159 home runs. They've stolen 82 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 29 times. Washington has walked 423 times this season and they've struck out 914 times as a unit. They've left 836 men on base and have a team OPS of .758. They score 4.82 runs per contest and have scored a total of 583 runs so far this year.

Atlanta comes into this matchup with a 18-43 home record and a 44-78 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.72, Joel De La Cruz has a 0-6 record and a 1.35 WHIP. He has 20 strikeouts over the 38.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 38 hits. He has allowed 8.8 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.96. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.19 and they have given up 407 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .251 against the Braves bullpen while being struck out 409 times and walking 207 times this season. As a team, Atlanta has allowed 8.7 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.54 batters per nine. They are 22nd in the league in team earned run average at 4.45. The Braves pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,062 base knocks and 544 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 437 hitters and struck out 921. 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 4.36.

As a team, they are batting .244, good for 26th in the league while putting together a .246 average at home. The Braves hold a .364 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .307 which is good for 27th in baseball. They rank 25th in baseball with 8.3 hits per contest. Freddie Freeman comes into this matchup batting .288 and he has an OBP of .382. He has 130 hits this year along with 69 runs scored and 58 RBI. He's struck out 131 times and has walked on 62 occasions. Nick Markakis is hitting .271 and he has an OBP of .346. He has collected 123 hits so far while he's scored 47 runs and drove in 66. He has earned a walk 54 times and has punched out 79 times. The Braves as a unit have 1,012 base hits, including 209 doubles and 83 homers. They have 56 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 28 times. Atlanta as a team has walked 353 times this year and they have struck out 917 times. They've had 856 men left on base and have an OPS of .671. They score 3.57 runs per game and have totaled 435 runs so far this season.

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

The Washington Nationals are 59-55-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Washington Nationals are 62-59-0 against the run line so far this season

Atlanta Braves Betting Trends

The Atlanta Braves are 57-58-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Atlanta Braves are 59-63-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Washington Nationals

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

08/17/16 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

Guy's Pick: Take the Nationals

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