MLB Picks 8/29 Atlanta Braves @ LA Dodgers

MLB Picks 8/29 Atlanta Braves @ LA Dodgers

by Thomas Quaynor for Wannamakeabet.com

In a highly anticipated matchup of the MLB’s top two teams and a potential NLCS preview, the Atlanta Braves (87-45) open a 4-game series on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers (83-49) tonight on MLB Network. Atlanta is coming off a 3-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. This is the final leg of a 10-game West Coast road trip for Atlanta, they’ve gone 5-1 so far. Los Angeles shut out visiting Arizona 7-0 last night completing a three-game sweep, they’ve won seven of their last eight games. The teams are meeting for the fourth time this season, Los Angeles took two of three from the Braves in Atlanta back in May. Tonight’s starters are Spencer Strider (15-4, 3.46 ERA) for Atlanta and Lance Lynn (10-9, 5.56 ERA) for Los Angeles. 

GAME ODDS

Moneyline: Atlanta -134,  Los Angeles +114

Run Line: Atlanta -1.5 (+125),  Los Angeles +1.5 (-150)

Run Total: over 8.5 (even)   under 8.5 (-122)

GAME STORYLINES

At 87-45, the Atlanta Braves have the best record in baseball and have been the most dominant team for the majority of the season. They own a commanding 13-game lead over second place Philadelphia in the National League East and will win the division for a 6th straight year. Atlanta has the deepest and most complete team in MLB when you look at their pitching and hitting. Offensively, they rank first in batting average, home runs, runs scored, total bases, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. As for pitching, they rank first in shutouts, third in ERA and fifth in strikeouts. Atlanta has a shot at setting the franchise-record for wins in a season (107) which is held by the 1998 team that went 106-56. They had an MLB-leading 8 players selected to July’s All-Star game.

The two standouts and MVP candidates in Atlanta’s explosive lineup are Ronald Acuna Jr. (.334, 29 HR, 79 RBI, 61 stolen bases) and Matt Olson (.271, 43 HR, 112 RBI). The 25-year-old, 4-time All-Star Acuna Jr. leads MLB in stolen bases and is third in batting average. He’s also 1 home run away from being the first player in MLB history to hit 30 homers and steal 60 bases in a season. Olson leads all of baseball in RBI and is second in homers. He needs 8 more home runs to set the franchise-record for homers in a season, which was set by Andrew Jones in 2005. Atlanta’s 250 home runs this season is a franchise record. 

Young ace Spencer Strider takes the mound for Atlanta tonight. The 24-year-old, second-year All-Star leads MLB in strikeouts and is tied for the MLB lead in wins. He’s won 3 straight starts and has gone 4-1 in August with 37 strikeouts and 11 walks. Tonight, will be Strider’s second time facing the Dodgers, he struck out 11 and gave up 2 earned runs and was tagged with the loss as Atlanta went on to lose 8-1.

After getting off to an uncharacteristic slow 39-33 start to the season and finding themselves 4.5 games behind the first place Arizona Diamondbacks in mid-June, the Los Angeles Dodgers flipped the proverbial switch and now have the second-best record in baseball. The Dodgers are a season-high 34 games over .500 at 83-49 and hold a 14.5 game lead over second place San Francisco in the National League West. When the Dodgers win the NL West this year, it will be their 10th division crown in the past 11 seasons. 

In a similar fashion to tonight’s opponent, Los Angeles also possesses a deep, talented and explosive lineup. They rank second to Atlanta in home runs, runs scored, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, and third in total bases. Some of the standouts in the Dodgers star-studded lineup include second baseman/outfielder Mookie Betts (.316, 36 HR, 94 RBI), first baseman Freddie Freeman (.338, 25 HR, 89 RBI), designated hitter J.D. Martinez (.256, 25 HR, 78 RBI) and third baseman Max Muncy (.208, 31 HR, 88 RBI). Freeman, Betts and Martinez were all selected to start the All-Star game in July. 

The 7-time All-Star Betts has set a career-high in home runs this year with 36, his home run total ranks 5th in MLB. Freeman is also a 7-time All-Star, he leads MLB in doubles and ranks second in batting average, hits and total bases. The 35-year-old Martinez has experienced a resurgence in his first season wearing Dodger blue, he’s on pace to have his most homers since 2019 when he hit 36 with Boston. Muncy has eclipsed the 30+ home runs for the 4th time in his 5 full seasons with the Dodgers.

THE PICK

Spencer Strider has been unhittable of late, I’m riding the hot hand…take Atlanta on the moneyline!!