The Atlanta Braves are surprise leaders of the NL East Division, while the San Diego Padres are last in the NL West. So it should be an easy MLB betting odds call for their series finale matinee in southern California on Wednesday, right? Well, that may depend on whom is pitching for the Friars.
Eric Hosmer homered, doubled and drove in three runs Monday in the win against the Braves. Hosmer had a rough three-week run in May in which he hit .195 over 20 games, but he’s bounced back with 15 hits in his last seven games to push his average back up to .293. The homer was his first since May 15.
Third baseman Christian Villanueva missed Monday’s game so monitor his status. Villanueva is nursing a bruised left ankle after fouling a ball off the area Sunday. The 26-year-old has cooled off substantially after his hot start and is now hitting .241/.305/.546 with 15 homers and 35 RBI on the season.
The Padres have scored first in three of their last five victories, and they have a 19-3 record (.864 winning percentage) when scoring first, leading the NL and ranking third in the majors behind NYY’s .873 winning percentage and BOS’s .897 mark.
How to Bet Braves at Padres MLB Odds & Game Info
When: Wednesday, 3:40 PM ET Where: Petco Park, San Diego Probable pitchers (away/home): Mike Foltynewicz/TBA TV: MLB Extra Innings Stream: MLB.tv Radio: 680 AM (Atlanta) / 97.3 FM (San Diego) Opening MLB Betting Lines: TBARECAP: Freeman fuels #Braves‘ 18-hit blowout in San Diego. https://t.co/lEKIMPX5hy pic.twitter.com/0vHXtG1sdo
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 6, 2018
Why Bet on Atlanta?
The Braves remain without rookie outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., the No. 1 overall prospect in the game. Acuna (knee) has yet to resume baseball activities from his strained ACL. Acuna is progressing but is still sore and it’s possible but not a given that he will be cleared to resume baseball activities later this week, and he will need a rehab assignment before being activated. More potential bad news Monday in the 11-4 loss at the Padres as starting pitcher Julio Teheran left his start with a right thumb contusion. Teheran apparently suffered the injury when he got jammed on a pitch while batting in the top of the fifth inning. He couldn’t throw a strike to begin the bottom of the fifth and he was lifted after issuing a four-pitch walk to Jose Pirela. Teheran had problems before that point and was ultimately charged with four earned runs on three total walks and five total hits — including three solo homers. He’s 4-4 with a 4.34 ERA in 13 starts this year with the Braves.Who Will Start for Atlanta?
The Braves will start Mike Foltynewicz here. Folty (5-3, 2.22) has become a No. 1-type starter in 2018. He recorded the win in Friday’s 4-0 victory over the Nationals, allowing only two hits and a walk while striking out a season-high 11 in a complete game shutout. The right-hander had never pitched a full nine innings before, so it was clearly the best start of Foltynewicz’s career. He fired 73 of 106 pitches for strikes and didn’t allow a runner to reach second base, at one point retiring 20 straight hitters following Bryce Harper’s first-inning single. Foltynewicz hit 99 mph with his fastball in the ninth. He became the seventh pitcher in Atlanta history (since 1966) to throw a two-hitter or better and record double-digit strikeouts. The most recent had been Hall of Famer Greg Maddux against the Brewers on May 2, 2001. “All my pitches were really working,” Foltynewicz said. “The slider and curveball were there. The fastball up in the zone was there, too, to get some swings and misses. It was one of those games where you’re in a groove and you just kind of go with the flow.” He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 11 of his 12 starts this season.Why Bet on San Diego?
Eric Hosmer homered, doubled and drove in three runs Monday in the win against the Braves. Hosmer had a rough three-week run in May in which he hit .195 over 20 games, but he’s bounced back with 15 hits in his last seven games to push his average back up to .293. The homer was his first since May 15.
Third baseman Christian Villanueva missed Monday’s game so monitor his status. Villanueva is nursing a bruised left ankle after fouling a ball off the area Sunday. The 26-year-old has cooled off substantially after his hot start and is now hitting .241/.305/.546 with 15 homers and 35 RBI on the season.
The Padres have scored first in three of their last five victories, and they have a 19-3 record (.864 winning percentage) when scoring first, leading the NL and ranking third in the majors behind NYY’s .873 winning percentage and BOS’s .897 mark.
How Have San Diego Done So Far Recently?
Entering Tuesday, the Padres are 6-2 on their homestand, having won three of four from the Marlins and two of three from the Reds before the NL East-leading Braves arrived at Petco Park for a three-game series. They are closer to .500 than they have been since being 9-15 on April 23. The last time they were this close to the top of the NL West this late in a season was June 23, 2015. The Padres were 14-26 in the season’s first 40 games, as the rotation combined for just 11 quality starts and an 8-20 record. But that rotation has been much better of late. As of now, we don’t know whom San Diego will start on the mound here and there won’t be odds until that’s official. It would normally be Joey Lucchesi’s turn, but the rookie is on the DL with a hip injury. Walker Lockett was called up last week lasted 3 2/3 innings and gave up four runs and five walks to the Reds in his major league debut Friday in a spot start but has since been sent back down. It could be a bullpen-by-committee thing for the Padres on Wednesday.Latest MLB Betting Trends
- Braves are 14-3 in their last 17 during game 3 of a series.
- Braves are 7-2 in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Atlanta is 14-3 in their last 17 during game 3 of a series.
- Braves are 7-2 in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Atlanta is 4-1 in Foltynewicz’s last 5 Wednesday starts.
