Nationals vs. Braves Odds & Betting Predictions - August 23, 2024

Follow On X: https://x.com/PicksOffice MacKenzie Gore has been one of the bright spots for the Washington Nationals this year, especially in his matchups against the Atlanta Braves. He was very sharp, with a 1.74 ERA and about 15.1 K/9 in 10 1/3 frames in his two starts against the Braves. This does not only reflect in his strikeout rate but also in his ability to limit the Braves' lineup opportunities on base, as evidenced by his 1.29 WHIP in those starts. With Gore dominating the Braves like he has, there is a strong case for backing the Nationals to win the game, especially considering Gore's propensity to come through in high-pressure divisional games. On the other side, Braves offense has shown vulnerabilities this season, as it sits 16th in runs scored and 17th in batting average. These numbers would point to a lineup that fights for consistency—a problem that could be further exacerbated by facing a pitcher who already gained success against them. The Braves have also been less successful in scoring because of a mediocre on-base percentage of .307 and 20th in the league. That ineptness at the plate could combine with Gore's strikeout ability to squeeze out another low-scoring performance by the Braves and create what has become impossible for them to do again: win at home. The situational trends, though, strongly favor the Nationals. Washington has been a good bet as an underdog against the NL East and is 7-1 over their last eight in that situation. Meanwhile, Atlanta tends to let down when favored after a win and the Braves have lost each of their last six to the Nationals in that situation. This merely points to the inconsistency of the Braves and their inability to really hold on to those disparities expected when they should indeed dominate inferior clubs, after all. Another angle at which this game could be approached is that the Braves have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six games against the Nationals following a win, further solidifying the notion that Washington not only keeps these games extremely competitive but claims victories as well.

Flat to -105