The Philadelphia Phillies (49-46, 24-24 home) take on the Atlanta Braves (58-39, 25-18 away) in the battle of two of the top teams in the National League East beginning Monday night. The series opener will be the eighth meeting between these two rivals this season. Atlanta owns the head-to-head battle with a 4-3 record.
The first pitch of the contest is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EST at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Atlanta is the betting favorite at -175, and the over-under total is eight runs.
What to Know – Atlanta Braves
Atlanta opened up the second half of the schedule, winning two of three against the Los Angeles Angels in an interleague series at home. The Braves’ strong play over the last month and a half have Atlanta just 1.5 games back of the leading New York Mets in the division.
On the hill for the Braves is expected to be left-hander Max Fried (10-3, 2.64 ERA, 1.06 WHIP). The All-Star is 3-1 in the month of July and opened up after the All-Star break with a victory. This year the 28-year-old has logged 119.1 innings on the mound, surrendered 35 earned runs on 105 hits, and walked 22 with 109 strikeouts.
The offense for Atlanta has come alive over the last six weeks, and it’s been led by the production of Austin Riley and Matt Olsen. Riley leads the lineup with 28 home runs and 63 runs batted in, while Olsen has driven in 62 with 18 home runs. With Ronald Acuna Jr. healthy and back, Atlanta’s offense should continue to be one of the top lineups in the NL.
Atlanta’s offense is tenth in the majors with a .248 team batting average that scores 4.8 runs per game. The pitching staff for the Braves ranks seventh in the MLB, sporting a 3.62 team earned run average.
What to Know – Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia got handed a three-game sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs over the weekend. The rare sweep dropped the Phillies 9.5 games back of the Mets and eight games behind the Braves in the NL East.
Looking to get the hosts back in the win column is left-hander Ranger Suarez (7-5, 4.07 ERA, 1.42 WHIP). The 26-year-old makes his first start of the second half after a solid finish to the first half. Over 84.0 innings on the hill, Suarez allowed 38 earned runs behind 86 hits and 33 walks while striking out 68.
Philadelphia’s offense continues to do what it can without the bat of Bryce Harper in the lineup. Kyle Schwarber is that leader, blasting 30 home runs and driving in 59 runs through 93 games of action. Rhys Hoskins has 19 home runs and 45 RBIs, and Nick Castellanos has driven in 46 runs.
The Phillies score 4.6 runs per contest thanks to a .244 team batting average that is 15th in the league. Philadelphia’s pitching staff sits tenth in the MLB with a 3.82 team ERA.
The Pick is In
These two divisional rivals went back and forth during the first half. Not having Harper in the lineup will hurt, while the Braves getting their star Acuna Jr. has boosted the defending World Series champions’ offense.
With Fried on the mound, we like the Braves to get it done on the road and deal the Phillies with their fourth-straight loss.
The Pick: Atlanta Braves ML
