National League East rivals Washington Nationals (58-71) and Atlanta Braves (69-59) square off for Game 2 of their series at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, August 24 at 7:20 PM ET. The Braves are favored to win with a moneyline currently at -180.
The Nationals are currently fourth in the division and likely out of reach for a playoff push. They would have to win most of their remaining games, and the leading Philadelphia Phillies would have to lose a handful as well.
While that may sound possible, it isn't likely. The Nationals have been volatile all season, especially on the defensive end. However, they have played exceptionally well against the Braves throughout the year, going 6-3 in nine games.
They will start Jake Irvin (9-10) on the mound. He has been solid through 151.0 innings this season. He currently boasts an ERA of 3.81 and a WHIP of 1.15, while the team averages an ERA of around 4.32.
The Nationals are getting .245 at the plate offensively but have struggled to maintain the same discipline defensively. They are allowing their opponents to average .261 at the plate.
The Braves are coming from a 3-2, 10-inning victory in Game 1 of this series. They could capitalize on a throwing error with a runner in scoring position to end the game. The Braves are 34-27 at home while the Nationals are 28-27 on the road, making this a slim margin for error for both teams.
They are now 7-3 in their last 10 games and are inching closer to the leading Phillies in the division. They are currently 6.0 games back from them and need to continue adding more to push this momentum further.
Charlie Morton (7-7) gets the start on the mound and has an ERA of 4.29 and a WHIP of 1.28. The team is averaging a 3.67 ERA and will need to flex their bullpen late in the game to have any shot at keeping the Nationals from gaining momentum offensively.
The Braves' batting average is .242, but they allow opposing teams to stay within reach. They give up .240 in return, which has opened the door plenty of times for the Nationals to fight back.
MyBookie gives you the best MLB betting odds for the Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves battle. According to market insights, the Braves have a 61.4 percent chance of success.
After a challenging Game 1 battle, both teams make a great case to succeed in Game 2. However, the Braves still offer a more appealing scenario for winning based on the Nationals' tendencies of allowing teams to get hot at the plate.
