Phillies vs Braves MLB Lines, Preview & Prediction.

Phillies vs Braves MLB Lines, Preview & Prediction

Written by on July 2, 2019

The struggling Philadelphia Phillies trail the Atlanta Braves by 5.5 games in the NL East and look to close the gap starting Tuesday night as the teams open a series in Atlanta. The Braves will be favored on the MLB Odds behind new addition Dallas Keuchel.

How to Bet Phillies at Braves MLB Lines & TV Info

Yankees vs Mets MLB Odds & Pick for Tuesday Night

Why Bet on Philadelphia?

The Phillies snapped a two-game losing streak Sunday with a 13-6 win at the Marlins to avoid a sweep. Bryce Harper went 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored. Harper dumped an RBI single into center field in the first inning and skied a fly ball to left field with the bases loaded in the sixth inning that hit off Curtis Granderson’s glove but was ruled a hit as well, and he tacked on two more in the eighth when he slapped a Jeff Brigham offering over the wall in left field. The 26-year-old now has 15 homers, 59 RBI and 50 runs scored while batting .250/.368/.471 in 84 games.

Cesar Hernandez went 3-for-5 with two runs scored Sunday. Hernandez’s hits were all singles. The multi-hit game was nothing new for the 29-year-old, who has seven multi-hit performances under his belt in his last 10 games. The good stretch has upped his season line to .284/.339/.429 in 83 games. Brad Miller went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored Sunday. The homer was Miller’s third in 13 games since being acquired from the Yankees and promoted to the big club, and the 29-year-old is hitting .375/.500/.875 while playing all over the field in those 13 contests.

Star catcher J.T. Realmuto was removed from Sunday’s game with a left hamstring injury. Phillies’ manager Gabe Kapler indicated that the early exit was precautionary and that he could have remained in if the score were closer. Outfielder Jay Bruce missed his second straight game with an elbow injury.

The Phillies have moved Aaron Nola’s next startup from Wednesday to Tuesday. Nick Pivetta was initially ahead of Nola in the Phillies’ pitching schedule, but Kapler took advantage of Monday’s off-day to shift things around. That’s to allow Nola to get an additional start in on Sunday against the Mets before the All-Star break. This season, the 26-year-old right-hander has a 4.22 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 110/38 K/BB ratio in 96 innings covering 17 starts.

Nola pitched most recently last Thursday. He was denied a win after throwing seven scoreless innings against the Mets. Nola allowed just one hit, walked none and struck out 10 in his best performance of the year to date. However, Hector Neris couldn’t hold a 1-0 lead in the ninth.

Team Stats

Offense
  • Runs: 4.90
  • Hits: 8.24
  • Walks: 3.74
  • Strike Outs: 8.61

Defense

  • Runs: 4.86
  • Hits: 9.15
  • Walks: 3.36
  • Strike Outs: 8.40

Why Bet on Atlanta?

Atlanta reached 50 wins in their 84th game of the season, and become the fastest Braves team to that number of victories in a season since the 2003 team reached the mark by its 77th game. The Braves have hit nine pairs of consecutive home runs this season, tied for the most in the major leagues with Washington. Only three other times in franchise history have the Braves hit more in a season, hitting 11 in each of 1998, 1999 and 2006.

The Braves were denied a sweep at the Mets over the weekend in losing 8-5 on Sunday. Ronald Acuna went 3-for-5 and smashed his 20th home run of the season in the loss. The first-time All-Star is having an outstanding season, slashing .295/.376/.513 with 20 long balls, 52 RBI and 13 stolen bases. He’ll compete at the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game.

Phillies vs Braves is going to be a close one.

Atlanta has placed reliever Anthony Swarzak on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. It’s a big loss as Swarzak has been outstanding since coming over from the Mariners — posting a 0.52 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 21/6K/BB ratio across 17 1/3 innings in a setup role. Chad Sobotka has been recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

It’s lefty Dallas Keuchel on the mound. Keuchel (1-1) gave up three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two through 5.2 innings to take the win over the Cubs on Wednesday. Keuchel surrendered two home runs and allowed plenty of baserunners, but he did enough to keep the Braves in the game and earn his first win of the season. Keuchel also recorded his first hit in the major leagues since 2015. Keuchel has a 1-1 record with a 5.06 ERA through two starts this season. He’ll look to get deeper in a game this time around, as he’s yet to complete six innings with Atlanta.

Team Stats

Offense
  • Runs: 5.42
  • Hits: 9.16
  • Walks: 3.60
  • Strike Outs: 8.62

Defense

  • Runs: 4.87
  • Hits: 8.65
  • Walks: 3.68
  • Strike Outs: 8.59

Phillies vs Braves MLB Betting Trends

  • Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Atlanta
  • Phillies are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games on the road
  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia’s last 5 games played in July
  • Braves are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
  • The total has gone OVER in 13 of Atlanta’s last 14 games at home

Expert Final Score Prediction for Phillies vs Braves

Philadelphia Phillies 3 – Atlanta Braves 4