Braves vs. Nationals Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 7/16/2022

The Atlanta Braves (55-37) are -250 favorites when they play the Washington Nationals (30-62) on Saturday at 4:05 PM ET. Austin Riley has 99 hits on the season and will hope to hit his milestone 100th once the game begins at Nationals Park. Atlanta’s Max Fried and Washington’s Paolo Espino have been named the starters for this contest.

Braves vs. Nationals Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Braves vs. Nationals

We have the Nationals on the moneyline at +206 on the moneyline as our best bet in this contest after digging through all of the key stats and trends for this matchup. Our computer prediction sees the scoring going over the total of 8.5 runs.

Our computer pick: Washington Nationals (+206) and Over (8.5)

Braves vs. Nationals Game Info

• Atlanta Braves probable starting pitcher: Max Fried
• Washington Nationals probable starting pitcher: Paolo Espino
• Game Day: Saturday, July 16, 2022
• Game Time: 4:05 PM ET
• Location: Washington D.C.
• Stadium: Nationals Park

Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals Pitching Matchup

Braves Starter Max Fried

• Fried (9-3 with a 2.56 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 112 1/3 innings pitched) goes for his 10th victory when he gets the start for the Braves, his 19th of the season.
• His most recent appearance was on Monday against the New York Mets, when the lefty tossed 5 2/3 innings, surrendering two earned runs while allowing five hits.
• The 28-year-old has amassed an ERA of 2.56, with 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings, in 18 games this season. Opponents are batting .233 against him.
• Fried heads into the outing with 13 quality starts under his belt this year.
• Fried is seeking his 19th straight appearance lasting five or more innings. He averages 6.1 innings per appearance on the mound.
• He meets a Nationals offense that ranks 26th in the league with 354 runs while batting .248 as a unit. It has a collective .374 slugging percentage (26th in MLB play) and has hit a total of 72 home runs (27th in MLB).
• Fried has thrown 11 innings, giving up six earned runs on 13 hits while striking out 10 against the Nationals this season.
• The 28-year-old ranks ninth in ERA (2.56), 19th in WHIP (1.068), and 33rd in K/9 (8.4) among qualifying pitchers in MLB play this season.

Nationals Starter Paolo Espino

• Espino (0-2) will take to the mound for the Nationals and make his seventh start of the season.
• The right-hander’s last appearance was on Sunday, when he threw 4 2/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves, giving up two earned runs while allowing six hits.
• The 35-year-old has an ERA of 3.42, a 3.417 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.234 in 26 games this season.
• In six starts this season, Espino has not yet earned a quality start.
• Espino has started six games this season, and he’s lasted five or more innings two times. He averages 2.0 innings per appearance.
• The Braves rank ninth in MLB with a .248 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks first in the league (.445) and 145 home runs.
• The right-hander has allowed the Braves to go 10-for-30 with a double, a home run and five RBI in seven innings this season.

Braves Betting Picks & Insights

• The Braves have been favorites in 69 games this season and won 46 (66.7%) of those contests.
• Atlanta is undefeated in five games this season when favored by -250 or more on the moneyline.
• The moneyline for this contest implies a 71.4% chance of a victory for the Braves.
• Atlanta and its opponents have hit the over in 43 of their 91 games with a total this season.
• In 91 games with a spread this season, the Braves are 45-46-0 ATS.

Nationals Betting Picks & Insights

• The Nationals have won in 23, or 30.3%, of the 76 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs in this year.
• Washington has a mark of 1-3 in contests where bookmakers favor them by +206 or worse on the moneyline.
• Oddsmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Nationals have a 32.7% chance of pulling out a win.
• Contests with Washington have gone over the total set by bookmakers in 45 of 92 chances this season.
• In 92 games with a line this season, the Nationals have a mark of 39-53-0 against the spread.

Braves Leaders & Batting Stats

• Riley leads the Braves in home runs (26) and runs batted in (60).
• Including all MLB hitters, Riley is 35th in batting average, 51st in on-base percentage, and sixth in slugging.
• Riley brings a hitting streak of 11 games into this game. During his last 10 games he is batting .381 with two doubles, five home runs, two walks and nine RBI.
• Matt Olson has 33 doubles, 16 home runs and 47 walks while hitting .256.
• Of all major league batters, Olson ranks 31st in homers and 15th in RBI.
• Olson carries a four-game streak with at least one hit into this matchup. During his last five outings he is batting .286 with three home runs and seven RBI.
• Dansby Swanson has put up a team-high batting average of .290.
• Swanson is on a two-game hitting streak entering this contest. During his last five outings he is batting .111 with a home run, three walks and two RBI.
• Marcell Ozuna is batting .224 with 12 doubles, 17 home runs and 26 walks.

Nationals Leaders & Batting Stats

• Juan Soto paces the Nationals with 19 home runs.
• Soto’s home run total puts him 16th in MLB, and he is 64th in RBI.
• Josh Bell’s 48 RBI and .308 batting average both pace his team.
• Bell is currently 49th in home runs and 37th in RBI in the big leagues.
• Nelson Cruz has a team-best 48 runs batted in.
• Cesar Hernandez is hitting .244 with 19 doubles, two triples and 29 walks.