Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies 8/31/24 – An example of a matchup that captures the attention of both fans and bettors as the MLB season rolls on is the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies (79-55) will meet the Braves (73-61) on Saturday and the venue will be the Citizens Bank Park. The game promises to be closely contested and competitive in nature. The teams also position themselves well for the playoffs as the season nears the final stages. This game is not only a battle of the heavyweights, but it is accompanied by great Premium Game Insights as well.
Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies 8/31/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 7:15 PM ET |
| Where: | Citizens Bank Park |
| TV: | FOX |
| Stream: | MLB.TV |
Atlanta Braves (73-61) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (79-55)
The Atlanta Braves, standing at 73-61, are entering this matchup after winning four of their last five outings. They have a batting average of .242, which is not the worst, thanks to their decent slug way of .415. They have already hit 176 homers in the current season and thus can be able to drive in runs from the plate. Considering that Braves does not enjoy beneficial on-base percentage, Diego Chant will may be crucial in the game as runs will have to be driven in with an on base percentage of .307. This game will also serve as a prelude to the upcoming Dodgers-Diamondbacks duel, highlighting the importance of strategic pitching and hitting adjustments.
The Philadelphia Phillies, however, have compiled a better record of 79-55 with a stronger line up having a team batting average of .258 together with slugging of .421. Their on-base percentage is a whopping .327 which indicates the pressure the team is able to mount on the pitchers of opponents. The offensiveness of the 651 runs scored with 159 home runs is well shown by the fact that Philadelphia Phillies have mounted thus performance. This game could potentially mirror strategies we might see in the Orioles and Rockies faceoff, especially in managing bullpen resources and defensive alignments.
Max Fried (8-7, 3.50 ERA) vs. Zack Wheeler (12-6, 2.74 ERA)
Max Fried is the starter for the Braves, boasting an 8-7 record and a 3.50 ERA. Max Fried has a WHIP of 1.2 over 133.2 innings of work and has picked up 126 strikeouts. This will be important because he has given up 46 walks this season and 10 home runs which will be essential in curbing the batting powerhouse of the Phillies. His stand-out properties include his steady shoulder in his release and the ground-ball-inducing pep pill. Such attributes may be helpful in crucial moments of the game when it is a neck-to-neck situation.
Zack Wheeler will be Philadelphia’s pitcher tonight, boasting records of 12-6 and limited earned runs of 2.74. Also just as top team pitchers do, Wheeler boasts a 1 WHIP and 176 strikeouts in 160.2 innings of pitching. Since Wheeler has pitched 212.2 innings and allowed only 17 home runs, he is able to perform well under pressure and that makes him a thorn in the flesh of the Braves’ hitters. This cannot be overemphasized, Wheeler will need his fastball as well as the slider to establish a rhythm at the start of the game.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 +143, Total Odds: 8
The betting odds lean slightly towards the Phillies, reflected in their Moneyline of -145 and a spread of -1.5 at +143. The game’s total is set at 8, with the over at -108, indicating expectations of a relatively high-scoring game. These odds suggest that while the Phillies are favorites, the Braves are expected to keep the game competitive.
Atlanta Braves Betting Trends
The Braves have shown resilience, especially in their recent road games, with a 6-1 SU record in their last 7 outings away from home. Furthermore, the total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta’s last 5 games, indicating their games tend to be high-scoring, a trend to watch in this matchup.
Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends
Philadelphia has been strong at home, boasting a 7-3 SU record in their last 10 games at Citizens Bank Park. However, against Atlanta specifically, the total has gone UNDER in 5 of their last 7 encounters, suggesting a tighter contest may be on the horizon.
Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies 8/31/24 Betting Picks
To analyze the statistics and current forms of both teams suggests that this game should go the distance if not in scoring, it will be in endurance and stamina. There has been enough power in the offensive line-ups of both sides which may tend to batter the pitchers as the game goes on.
It is more reasonable to go for the Phillies at home given the better batting numbers and the fact that Wheeler will be pitching. Nonetheless, one should not forget that the Braves play very well on the road too, hence a safer margin would be that of +1.5. Total runs or individual player performance props may also be worth considering, judging from the attacking nature of recent fixtures. Baseball game reviews and picks are also available here and analyzing games by players and by match-ups will also give better opportunities for bets.