Braves vs Dodgers Prediction - MLB Picks 8/31/23

Los Angeles Dodgers (83-49) vs Atlanta Braves (87-45)

Game Info: Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 10:10 pm (Dodger Stadium)

Lance Lynn (10-9) (5.56) vs Spencer Strider (15-4) (3.46)

Betting Odds: Los Angeles Dodgers +129 / Atlanta Braves -140 --- Over/Under: 7.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds

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The Atlanta Braves will play the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of their series on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Both of these teams are coming off of a sweep in their last series and they are two of the best teams in the MLB. 

Braves Preview

The Atlanta Braves are 87-45 this season and they have won seven of their last eight games. Atlanta is coming off of a series win against Colorado, where they won all three games. The Braves have pitched very well recently, allowing three runs or fewer in six of their last eight games. The Atlanta pitching staff has a 3.79 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, and a .239 opponent batting average this year. The Braves offense has scored 770 runs with a .276 batting average and a .345 on base percentage. Ronald Acuna is batting .334 with 29 home runs and 79 RBI’s for the Braves. The projected starting pitcher for Atlanta is Spencer Strider, who is 15-4 with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP over 153.1 innings pitched this season.

Dodgers Preview

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 83-49 this season and they have won seven of their last eight games. Los Angeles is coming off of a series win against the Diamondbacks, where they won all three games. The Dodgers have scored 5+ runs in eight consecutive games. The Los Angeles pitching staff has a 4.16 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and a .240 opponent batting average. The Dodgers offense has scored 746 runs with a .257 batting average and a .341 on base percentage this season. Freddie Freeman is batting .339 with 25 home runs and 89 RBI’s for the Dodgers. The projected starting pitcher for Los Angeles is Lance Lynn, who is 10-9 with a 5.56 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP over 150.2 innings pitched this year. 

Los Angeles Dodgers Team Facts

  • The Dodgers have won each of their last 11 Thursday games at Dodger Stadium.
  • The Dodgers have covered the run line in eight of their last nine games as underdogs.
  • The Dodgers have led after 3 innings in three of their last four games as underdogs against National League opponents.
  • The Dodgers have led after 5 innings in each of their last three games as underdogs against National League opponents.
  • The 'Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Dodgers' last three games as underdogs against NL East opponents.

Atlanta Braves Team Facts

  • The Braves have lost each of their last seven games at Dodger Stadium following a win.
  • The Braves have failed to cover the run line in eight of their last nine night games at Dodger Stadium following a win.
  • The Braves have led after 7 innings in each of their last six night games.

Los Angeles Dodgers Player Prop Facts

  • Mookie Betts has hit at least one home run in three of the Dodgers' last four home games against NL East opponents.
  • Mookie Betts has recorded at least one RBI in nine of the Dodgers' last 10 games against NL East opponents.
  • Mookie Betts has scored at least one run in each of the Dodgers' last six games as underdogs.
  • Lance Lynn has recorded six or more strikeouts in 15 of his last 18 appearances with his team as a home underdog.
  • Mookie Betts has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 15 home appearances against NL East opponents.
  • Mookie Betts has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 22 appearances against NL East opponents.
  • Mookie Betts ranks 2nd amongst qualified players for Slugging Percentage (.611) this season.

Atlanta Braves Player Prop Facts

  • Marcell Ozuna has hit a home run in three of the Braves' last four games as road favorites.
  • Marcell Ozuna has recorded at least one RBI in eight of the Braves' last nine games against NL opponents.
  • Matt Olson has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Braves' last six road games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
  • Ozzie Albies has scored a run in each of his last 10 appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.
  • Spencer Strider has recorded nine or more strikeouts in each of his last seven appearances in night games against teams that held a winning record.
  • Marcell Ozuna has recorded at least one hit in each of the Braves' last 17 road games.
  • Spencer Strider ranks 1st in the league for total Strikeouts (236) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

  • The Los Angeles Dodgers ranks 2nd in the league for RBI's this season (724).
  • The Los Angeles Dodgers ranks 2nd in the league for slugging percentage this season (.460).
  • The Atlanta Braves ranks 1st in the league for home runs this season (250).
  • The Atlanta Braves ranks 1st in the league for RBI's this season (744).

Pick

This should be a great series between two of the top teams in the MLB, but the Dodgers will have the home field advantage. LA is 46-21 at home, while Atlanta is 43-23 on the road. Both lineups can hit the ball very well and they are the top two scoring teams in baseball. Los Angeles is starting Lance Lynn, who has allowed three earned runs or fewer in five straight starts. Atlanta is starting Spencer Strider, who has allowed one earned run in his last 21 innings pitched. This game could go either way, but I am going to take the Dodgers at home to win Game 1. 

David’s Pick Dodgers ML

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The pick in this article is the opinion of the writer, not a PickDawgz site consensus.
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