The series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Atlanta Braves begins on Saturday night at 7:20 PM ET. Both of these teams are under .500 as of Thursday night, but the Diamondbacks have been on a tear recently, winning four-straight games. Luke Weaver will be the starting pitcher for the Diamondbacks, and Huascar Ynoa will man the mound first for the Braves.
Atlanta is coming off a big win of their own against the New York Yankees. Their 4-1 win split the series 1-1 and gave the Braves some momentum heading into Friday night. Although the season hasn’t favored Atlanta thus far, they’re right in the mix in the NL East. If they can secure some wins at home here against Arizona, you could see them increase their ranking in the division.
With both teams looking to improve their positioning in their respective divisions betting on this game is tough. The Diamondbacks have made quick work of their opponents lately, but the Braves are on the tail of their NL East rivals. Let’s look at what both teams bring to Friday’s game.
Arizona looks to continue its win streak against the battered Braves
After dropping two games to the Washington Nationals, the Arizona Diamondbacks bounced back and now have won four straight. The Diamondbacks are one of the league’s worst pitching teams and are only mediocre at batting, but they’ve put together impressive wins regardless. They’ll meet their match in the Atlanta Braves, a team that mirrors their playstyle very closely.
Arizona has been a fairly reliable team at the sportsbook with a 12-7 ATS record. They’re also quite good on the road and as an underdog. With a few key players banged up in Atlanta’s lineup, Arizona has a chance to capitalize here. Both teams have been more likely to go OVER than UNDER, so keep that in mind when placing your bet.
Atlanta can close the gap in the NL East with a strong series here
The NL East is a jumble of mediocre teams that all have similar records. In this series versus the Diamondbacks, the Braves have a chance to increase their standing and perhaps break away from the group. To do that, though, they’ll have to overcome a mountain of injuries that could be detrimental to their batting lineup.
The Braves haven’t been a trustworthy team at the sportsbook throughout this season. They’ve had inconsistencies on the mound and in the batters-box and currently have four players on the 10-day IL. With Ronald Acuna Jr. still questionable for Friday, the Braves will have to be in top shape against the Diamondbacks.
Which team should you take for Game 1?
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been a much better team over the span of the last five games. They also can begin to close their 5.5 game break from the Dodgers with a good series here. Knowing that and some of the injuries on the Braves roster, the Diamondbacks should be able to take this game on the road. Look for Arizona to get off to a great start in this series, Arizona Diamondbacks +135.
