Bryan Armetta offers up a preview, prediction and pick for Saturday’s MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.
NL East rivals are set to face off tonight. The Braves (13-7) are in peak form, itching for a return to the postseason. They’ll hand the ball to staff ace Chris Sale this evening, looking to clinch a series win. As for the Phillies (8-11), it’ll be another terrific arm in Cristopher Sanchez on the mound. Can Philadelphia bounce back on Saturday?
The Phillies are favorites (-126) over the Braves, with the over/under set at seven runs. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Saturday’s showdown between Atlanta and Philadelphia on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Braves vs. Phillies prediction, preview
In this battle between elite arms, the visitors should feel confident in Chris Sale. The 2024 NL Cy Young winner, when healthy, is still a force on the mound. Through 22.0 innings, the left-hander owns a 3.27 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 22 strikeouts. His season has been even better than those numbers would suggest. Outside of a dismal outing vs. the Angels (4.0 IP, 6 ER), Sale has allowed two combined earned runs. To make things more enticing, the veteran has had success in this spot before. The nine-time All-Star has allowed a combined one run and five hits over his last 12.0 innings against Philadelphia.
With that being said, navigating this lineup is no easy task. Despite a sleepy start, the Phillies possess ample amounts of fire power. Look no further than Kyle Schwarber, arguably the National League’s top slugger. Since 2022, he trails only Aaron Judge with 193 total home runs. Don’t forget about fellow All-Star Bryce Harper, still a threat to go yard at any given moment. The pair have combined for ten homers in just 19 games this season. However, the rest of Pbiladelphia’s offense hasn’t been picking up the slack. Just one hitter other than Harper and Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, has a wRC+ above 110.
For as great as Sale is, he may not be the best pitcher on the hill at Citizens Bank Park. Cristopher Sanchez has been a bright spot during an otherwise difficult start for Philadelphia. The former All-Star has recorded a sparkling 2.01 ERA and 31 strikeouts through four outings this season. However, a 1.39 WHIP suggests a bit of luck so far. Regardless, the Dominican has a strong track record, especially against the Braves. Atlanta has only tallied a combined five earned runs over their last three meetings with Sanchez (2.45 ERA).
The biggest difference between these clubs at the moment is at the plate. Atlanta has gotten terrific production on offense despite a slow start from franchise cornerstone Ronald Acuna Jr. At first base, Matt Olson is slashing .299/.393/.610 with five home runs and 15 RBIs. He’s been accompanied by reigning NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin. The catcher leads the team with a .325 batting average alongside five homers and 19 RBIs. As a unit, the Braves are averaging 5.75 runs per game, second-most in the league. To boot, they own baseball’s fourth-best OPS vs. left-handed pitching (.791). In comparison, the Phillies rank 26th in that category (.555).
Braves vs. Phillies pick, best bet
A dominant performance from both starters wouldn’t come as a surprise on Saturday. Regardless, it’s difficult to ignore just how good the Braves have been at the dish. Their success against lefties also suggests the potential for some damage vs. Sanchez. As for the Phillies, their top-heavy lineup just got shut out on Friday evening. A date with Sale offers no rest for the weary. To make matters worse, Philadelphia won’t have closer Jhoan Duran (oblique). Atlanta offers terrific value for bettors tonight at plus money.