The 2021 MLB betting action continues Monday, August 30, with 11 games on the schedule, including the National League showdown from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, so we’ve prepared the best Braves vs. Dodgers betting pick along with the latest odds on Bookmaker Sportsbook.

Back in June, the Braves beat the Dodgers in a three-game set at Truist Park in Atlanta, 2-1, playing as slight underdogs on all three occasions. This time, the Braves are +170 underdogs for the opening clash, while the Dodgers are -180 moneyline favorites with a total of 9.0 runs. 

The Braves aim for their second straight win

The Atlanta Braves are coming off a 9-0 home victory to San Francisco on Sunday afternoon. They improved to 70-59 on the season and retained a 4.5-game lead ahead of the second-best team in the AL East, as the Philadelphia Phillies also won on Sunday.

Over the last couple of weeks, the Braves have gone 9-3, scoring 62 runs in the process while slashing .254/.335/.437. On the other side of the ball, the Braves have registered a solid 3.33 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a .214 batting average against.

Drew Smyly will get the Dodgers on Monday, and he’s 9-3 with a 4.54 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 22 starts season. The 32-year-old lefty has struggled for most of the season, but he’s also got the strongest possible run support, as the Braves have gone 12-1 in Smyly’s previous 13 starts. Last time out, Drew’s yielded three earned runs across five frames, picking up a win in a 5-4 victory at Baltimore.

The Dodgers lean heavily on their pitching staff    

Excluding their Sunday’s closer of a three-game home set against Colorado, the Los Angeles Dodgers have won 13 of their previous 15 games at any location. Interestingly, in their previous 12 outings, the Dodgers have scored more than five runs only once. In the last couple of weeks, the reigning champs have compiled a disappointing .218/.296/.418 batting line.

Los Angeles boasts the lowest ERA in baseball this season (3.00). The Dodgers have recorded a 2.34 ERA and a .167 batting average against over their previous 13 showings, so it’s no strange they’ve won 11 games in that span.

Julio Urias will take the mound Monday, and the 25-year-old left-hander hasn’t surrendered a single run in three of his previous four appearances. Urias is 14-3 with a 3.17 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 25 starts this season. He’s registered a microscopic 1.10 ERA over his last six outings (32.2 innings pitched).

Trends:

Atlanta:

  • 3-11 in the last 14 road games against the Dodgers 

LA Dodgers:

  • 8-2 in Julio Urias’ last ten starts
  • 13-2 in the last 15 games overall

Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Pick

Julio Urias met the Braves in June and earn a win in a 9-5 victory at Truist Park. He tossed five frames of a one-run ball while striking out five, and the Dodgers expect him to put on another strong performance this Monday.

The current Braves have a .563 OPS in 23 at-bats against Urias, so the hosts certainly have an advantage on the mound. Drew Smyly has allowed exactly three earned runs in six of his last eight starts, and the Dodgers will look to finally get things going offensively.

Pick: Take Los Angeles Dodgers at -180  

The Total:

The Dodgers bullpen is killing it at the moment (2.19 ERA and 3.94 FIP in the last two weeks). The Braves’ offense is one of the most dangerous in the majors, but this should be a very difficult matchup with Julio Urias and his relievers.

I’m expecting the Dodgers to improve offensively, as the Braves bullpen has registered a 4.03 ERA and 3.96 FIP over the last couple of weeks. However, with the line at exactly nine runs, I’m opting with the under, as 12 of the Dodgers’ last 14 games produced fewer than nine runs in total.

Pick: Go under 9.0 runs at -120