When you are chasing a playoff spot this late in the season, you really need to grab as many wins as possible, which is why the schedule maker can end up being your best friend. The Washington Nationals are in real danger of missing out on the postseason, but they have a very favorable schedule over the final few weeks. They will continue their home stand against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday afternoon where they’re listed as -177 on MLB lines to win the match.
Taking a Look at the MLB Betting Lines Prediction on Atlanta at Washington & Game Info
Date: Friday, September 04, 2015 Time: 7:05PM Venue: Nationals Park Opening Line: Washington -177
That’s a final!! #Nats top the #Braves, 15-1, the largest margin of victory in Nationals history (2005-present)! pic.twitter.com/XY28bMKmau
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 4, 2015
If truth be told, the Nationals (68-65) really need to sweep the Braves over this 4-game series. They are 6 games behind the New York Mets in the NL East, and have to go and face that very team in their next series. A sweep against the Braves and a series win against the Mets would help make this race a little tighter, and perhaps give the Nationals the confidence boost they need heading into the final few weeks of the season.
As I mentioned at the start of this piece, the Nationals have been treated very well by the schedule maker, as they have the majority of their remaining games against teams that are in the bottom of their respective divisions. Getting on a hot streak could lay some doubt in the minds of the Mets, who have looked a little fragile at times this season. Gio Gonzalez (9-7, 4.13 ERA) is coming into this one on a 4-game winless streak.
The winless streak currently being put together by Gonzalez is nothing when compared to what is going on in Atlanta (54-80) right now. The Braves have now lost 9 in a row, and have only 1 win in their last 17 games. This is a team that is getting absolutely shelled right now, and that trend continued in the opening game of this series, where the Phillies trounced them 15-1. Braves fans new that this was going to be a long season, but I’m not sure anyone thought things would get as bad as they are right now. On the bright side, the long-awaited debut of Hector Olivera took place this week, and while he is not exactly lighting it up, he had driven in 3 of the 4 runs that the Braves have scored in the last 2 games. Shelby Miller (5-12, 2.56 ERA) would be a 15-20 game winner on a good team, but with the Braves he can’t buy a break.