The Atlanta Braves (23-25) and Arizona Diamondbacks (23-26) will face each other on Monday in Arizona for the first of a three-game series.
Last Games Records
The Braves took two out of three games from the Marlins over the weekend and are now 3-2 over their past five games overall. They are beginning to trend in the right direction after a brutal start to the season.
Arizona was swept by the Dodgers in a four-game series over the weekend. The Diamondbacks have outperformed expectations, but the sweep at the hands of LA was a difficult one.
Matchup Information
Let’s take a look at the MLB picks today and betting guides for this game.
Braves at Diamondbacks Betting Analysis
Atlanta Braves Betting Analysis
The Braves are finally beginning to play well. But who would have thought that they would be just a half-game better than the Diamondbacks at the end of May?
Nonetheless, Atlanta could get over the .500 mark with a strong series in the desert this week.
The Braves are starting to pitch better, which has been a major reason for their turnaround. Atlanta is 16th in ERA, 16 in WHIP, and 13th in batting average. They also are second in limiting home runs.
And their pitching rotation numbers should continue to improve. They have dealt with a number of underperformance from quality arms, and guys like Charlie Morton and Ian Anderson are expected to improve as the season goes on.
Spencer Strider (1-1, 2.22) has been one of the unsung heroes for Atlanta this year. He is the scheduled starter for Monday’s game and will look to lead the Braves to a Game 1 victory in Arizona.
Arizona Diamondbacks Betting Analysis
Arizona has been meddling at around .500 almost all year long. For most teams, that would not be ideal. But the D’Backs were projected to finish well under the .500 mark, so they have actually performed better than expected.
On the surface, their numbers don’t look great. The Diamondbacks are near the bottom of the league in team ERA, and home runs allowed. Offensively, Arizona is 29th in batting average and 22nd in OBP.
But they have still found ways to win games.
However, their lackluster lineup was the ultimate downfall against the Dodgers over the weekend. Arizona scored a combined total of eight runs over the course of four games. Their pitching labored in Games 1 and 2 but held the Dodgers to six combined runs in Games 3 and 4.
But it did not matter since they couldn’t get much of anything going offensively. They will look to rebound with ace and potential Cy Young candidate Zac Gallen (3-0, 2.22) on the mound for Game 1.
Gallen has been incredible this year and is the best player on this team.
Updates
- Arizona is 29-20 against the run line this year.
- Atlanta is 23-25 against the run line this season.
- The D’Backs are 14-13 against the run line at their home field.
- The Braves are 13-7 against the run line when playing on the road.
- Atlanta is 12-19 against the run line as a favorite.
- Arizona is 25-15 against the run line as an underdog.
Braves at Diamondbacks Betting Preview
The Braves could really use a sweep in this series. A winning streak could help place them back in contention in the NL East and erase their dreadful 2022 start. They are the clear favorites according to the MLB odds, but Zac Gallen is standing in their way.
Gallen is one of the best pitchers in baseball and features the ability to stifle any offense he faces. Arizona would not be where they are without his pitching prowess.
So can Gallen lead AZ to a win over the defending champs? Or will the Braves uphold the spread and take care of business?
Taking a chance on the Diamondbacks at home could work out well for bettors in Game 1. The fact that they are at home automatically makes them an enticing upset pick. But the pitching matchup only enhances their attractiveness in this ball game.
Braves at Diamondbacks Betting Prediction
Take the Arizona Diamondbacks +1.5 with your MLB Monday night betting selection.
How to Bet on Braves at Diamondbacks
Don’t worry about the MLB betting trends in this one. Take a chance on the D’Backs with Zac Gallen on the mound.
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