Braves vs. Nationals Prediction
Will the Nationals beat the Braves tonight at 7:05PM ET and win their fourth straight game?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Nationals are -165 money line favorites versus the Braves, who have odds of +145 to pull off the upset. With Mike Foltynewicz set to face Gio Gonzalez in the pitching matchup, the over/under currently sits at 9 runs.
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From Rotoworld: Foltynewicz took a no-hitter into the ninth before giving up a solo homer Friday in a victory over the A’s. Matt Olson made Folty throw nine pitches in breaking up the no-hitter. The seventh was a hanging slider that he laced foul. The ninth was a fastball down the middle that he sent to the bleachers. It was Folty’s career-high 119th pitch of the game, so he was lifted immediately afterwards, and Jim Johnson came in for the save in a 3-1 game. Foltynewicz ended up striking out eight and walking four. He ended up allowing 12 runs in June; eight against the Nationals on June 12 and four in his other five starts combined. The consistency hasn’t come yet, but he’s been an above average starter at 6-5 with a 3.83 ERA.
Gonzalez was sharp Saturday, allowing a lone run on two hits while striking out nine over seven innings in a loss to the Cardinals. It was unfortunate for Gonzalez that one of the two hits he allowed on the night was to eighth-place hitter Alex Mejia with a runner on second, plating a run that saddled the southpaw with an undeserving loss. Gio has been nothing short of brilliant this season with little fanfare, posting a 2.77 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 17 starts. He’s now lost two in a row while allowing a combined two runs, and he’ll hope for better luck Thursday against the Braves.
Bet Tonight’s Braves vs. Nationals Game
OUR PREDICTION: The Nationals are 4-0 in Gonzalez’s last four home starts versus the Braves, who are just 4-24 in their last 28 games in Washington. Washington has also won four of its last five home games, is 5-2 in its last seven home games versus a right-handed starter, and is 12-5 in Gonzalez’s last 17 outings following a quality start in his last appearance.
THURSDAY MLB PREDICTION: WASHINGTON NATIONALS -165