The Miami Marlins will host the Atlanta Braves for the first of a three-game set on Friday night. It’s time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Braves-Marlins prediction and pick.
We have an exciting weekend series between two NL East clubs that are looking to build momentum and climb the standings. Atlanta has owned this head-to-head series, especially when the games are played in Miami. The Braves are 12-3 in their last 15 games against the Marlins at loanDepot Park.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Braves-Marlins odds.
MLB Odds: Braves-Marlins Odds
Atlanta Braves -1.5 (+145)
Miami Marlins +1.5 (-165)
Over 7.5 Runs (-105)
Under 7.5 Runs (-115)
Why The Braves Could Cover The Spread
The Atlanta Braves are definitely a talented team and are finally starting to play like one. Atlanta won four of their last six games dating back to last week and will look to continue their recent stretch against a struggling Marlins club.
The Braves are averaging 4.86 runs per game and hitting .237 as a club, which is good for 14th in the Majors. They also have the ninth-best on-base percentage and fourth-best slugging percentage in the league. Outfielder Ronald Acuna is leading the way with 18 home runs and 38 RBI. The pitching staff has been the big issue for this club early on.
Atlanta will turn to their red-hot right-hander Charlie Morton for the series opener. The Braves starter currently has a 5-2 record and 4.21 ERA through 12 starts this season. He has been heating up lately and will be looking to earn a win in his fourth straight start. The tall right-hander has posted a 2.74 ERA over his past four starts as well. Morton has still been susceptible to bad innings and always poses a threat to allow three or more runs in an inning, which will tend to blow up a start.
Why The Marlins Could Cover The Spread
The Miami Marlins have been going through a major slump lately and will need to play better if they want to stay remotely close to the playoff race. Miami has lost 10 of their last 12 games and are still just 7.5 games back of the Mets in the National League East. This is a great opportunity for the Marlins to get back in the race with a good series against a division rival.
Miami is currently averaging just 3.84 runs per game on the year. They are currently hitting .233 as a club, which is 19th in the league. The Marlins are 24th in on-base percentage and 26th in slugging percentage. Needless to say, Miami has to wake the bats up. The pitching staff has been solid for Miami with the eighth-lowest team ERA in the Majors.
Miami will turn to right-hander Sandy Alcantara for the series opener. Alcantara is currently 3-5 with a 3.30 ERA through his first 13 starts of the season. The right-hander did a great job as the stopper last Sunday as he threw eight-innings of one-run ball against the Pirates. Alcantara helped his club snap an eight-game losing streak and will have to do his best to replicate that performance against the Braves.
Final Braves-Marlins Prediction & Pick
Miami can't seem to buy a win right now. They're going through one of those stretches where bettors should simply place a wager for their opponents every night and watch the money come in. If you did this for the past 12 games that Miami has played in, you'd be 10-2. Roll with Atlanta and their hot starting pitcher, Charlie Morton.
FINAL BRAVES-MARLINS PREDICTION & PICK: Atlanta Braves ML (-116)
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