Leading up to game two of this NL East battle, the Braves (104-58, 52-29 home) will send Max Fried to the mound to take on the Phillies (90-72, 41-40 away) and Zack Wheeler. Find out who I like to come out on top in this Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves matchup in Atlanta.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VS ATLANTA BRAVES BETTING PICK

The Pick: Atlanta Braves -160

This game will be played at Truist Park at 6:07 ET on Monday, October 9th.

WHY BET THE ATLANTA BRAVES:

  • In their previous ten games, the Braves have a record of 6-4.
  • Over their previous five games as the underdog, the Phillies are just 2-3 straight-up.
  • Opponents are hitting just .177 against Max Fried in his last two starts.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES HAVE STRUGGLED AGAINST THE NL EAST

For the season, the Phillies have put together a record of 90-72 and are 2nd in the NL East, putting them 14 games out of first place. Philadelphia’s overall series record sits at 29-20-2. On the road, they have gone 41-40 and 49-32 at home.

The Phillies will turn to starter Zack Wheeler, who has an impressive 13-6 record over 33 appearances. His ERA is 3.61, with a K/9 of 9.94, and his FIP is 3.15 to go along with an OBP of .273. So far this season, Wheeler has been a reliable force for the Phillies’ rotation.

The Phillies are banking on Zack Wheeler to lead them to victory once again, as he was the driving force behind their 4-1 triumph over the Marlins in his last outing. He allowed just one earned run on five hits over 6 2/3 frames.

This season, the Phillies are 8th in the league at 4.9 runs per game. Over their last five games, they have a combined batting average of .234 (17th) leading to 5 runs per contest. Overall, they are generating 3.2 walks per game compared to 9 strikeouts. Philadelphia’s on-base percentage of .327 has them 7th in the MLB.

Over the last five games, Bryson Stott has been a standout for the Phillies, leading the team in hits and batting .479. This season, Stott has been a reliable source of offense for Philadelphia, boasting a .280 batting average and 62 RBIs.

WILL THE ATLANTA BRAVES TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?

Heading into this divisional matchup vs. the Phillies, the Braves have an overall record of 104-58. This mark includes going 35-17 against divisional foes. Currently, they are 1st in the NL East. Atlanta’s overall series record sits at 36-12-2.

Atlanta Braves starter Max Fried is having a stellar season in 2023, boasting an 8-1 record and a 2.55 ERA. On the road, he has been particularly impressive with an ERA of 2.00, while his ERA at home stands at 3.95. Fried’s WHIP for the season is 1.13 and he has held opposing teams to a .234 batting average against him, with a slugging percentage of .331.

The Braves are hoping Max Fried can lead them to another victory, as he pitched them to a 10-3 win over the Nationals in his last outing. Fried allowed just three hits and one earned run over six innings of work.

The Braves have been one of the top power lineups in the league of late, having hit 16 home runs over their last ten games. Compared to other clubs, this is 4th best in that span. For the season, they are ranked 1st in home runs and 1st in slugging percentage. Overall, Atlanta is averaging 5.8 runs per game (1st).

The Braves’ offensive leader this season has been Ronald Acuña Jr. The outfielder has been a force at the plate, boasting a .337 batting average and driving in 106 runs. Additionally, Acuña Jr. has hit an impressive 41 home runs so far in 2023.