Media by Associated Press – Atlanta Braves’ Marcell Ozuna through on a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 25, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Bob Andres)
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves will decide who wins the series on Sunday Night Baseball with a 7:08 p.m. ET first pitch from Truist Park in Atlanta. The Dodgers won Friday’s opener 4-1 before Atlanta took Saturday’s game 5-3.
Tony Gonsolin has been remarkable this season. He puts his 9-0 record on the line, touting a 1.58 ERA and 0.82 WHIP. The Dodgers are 10-3 in his starts, and the over/under is 4-9.
Flamethrowing rookie Spencer Strider opposes for Atlanta. He started the season as a reliever and is being stretched into a starter. He’s completed five innings twice. He’s 3-2 with a 3.40 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and has 72 strikeouts in 47.2 innings pitched.
It’s nearly a pick ‘em, but the Dodgers are slight moneyline favorites at -115 with the Braves -105 to win. The Dodgers’ run line is -1.5 (+140), with the Braves +1.5 (-165). The over/under is 8.5, with -115 odds on the over and -105 on the under.
Dodgers/Braves Betting Trends
- The Dodgers are the public moneyline favorites with 75% of bets on them.
- Though 53% of bets are on under 8.5.
- The under is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
- The Braves have won six of the last seven with the Dodgers in Atlanta.
- The under is 5-1 in the last six meetings in Atlanta.
- The Dodgers are 28-35-7 on over/unders this season.
- The Braves are 38-32-3 on over/unders this season.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers (44-26) lead the NL West by a game and are seemingly the best team on paper. They are first in runs per game (5.19) and OPS (.760), and they are second in runs allowed per game (3.31), opposing batting average (.216), and third in opposing OPS (.634).
They’ve been powered by the big three. Trea Turner is hitting .320 with 17 doubles, two triples, ten home runs, 52 RBIs, 39 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. Freddie Freeman is hitting .303 with 23 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 47 runs scored, and 45 RBIs. Mookie Betts is hitting .273 with 13 doubles, 17 home runs, 53 runs scored, and 40 RBIs.
The rest of the lineup is just as powerful, with seven hitters slugging at least ten doubles. Five have at least two triples, and eight have at least five home runs.
Atlanta Braves
Atlanta’s offense has been slightly better than their pitching this season. The Braves (42-31) rank eighth, scoring 4.78 runs per game. Their .755 OPS is fourth. But they also strike out a lot, 9.51 times per game, in fact, which is the second-worst rate in the league.
The pitching staff is 12th, allowing 4.15 runs per game but strike out the most hitters per game at 9.73 per contest. They limit opponents to a .660 OPS, ranking sixth.
Matt Olson has 29 doubles after joining the team as Freeman’s replacement. Dansby Swanson is heating up with a .307 average, 14 doubles, 13 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 48 runs scored. Five players have at least ten home runs, led by Austin Riley’s 18.
Dodgers/Braves Betting Prediction
The Braves are on a tear and have cut the New York Mets’ NL East lead to five games. Atlanta is 19-4 this month, and securing a series win against Gonsolin would be a high mark for the defending champs.
Freeman had an emotional welcome back Friday, but it didn’t take long for the fans to cheer loud when he struck out in the seventh inning of Saturday’s game with the bases loaded and an opportunity to tie the game or take the lead.
Both offenses are potent, and both pitchers have been very good. In three of his no decisions, Gonsolin did not last more than five innings, not that that is a benchmark for him to hit. If he can give his team six strong innings, they should win.
Dodgers -115.
Keep up with your latest MLB news coverage and betting pick previews at NJ Sportsbook.