Braves vs Dodgers Prediction, Pick and Preview, August 30: MLB

Credit: photo by Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

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Preview

The Braves begin their three-game series tonight at Dodger Stadium.  Atlanta is coming off of a 2-1 series win over the Giants and getting swept by the Yankees 2-0.  The Yankees losses snapped a nine-game winning streak for Atlanta and were the first back-to-back losses the club suffered since mid-July.  The Braves are still in control of the NL East but with the Phillies just four and a half games back, Atlanta will try to topple the NL West second-place Dodgers after defeating the division-leading Giants.  The Dodgers were actually done a favor by the Braves and will now try to capitalize on being only two and a half games behind San Francisco.  LAD is sitting comfortably in a wild card spot, but will still be holding out hope that they can take the NL West for the ninth year running. The Dodgers swept the Padres but then lost their last series 2-1 to Colorado and closed out that series by being swept at home last night.   Even with the third-best runs per game average behind Tampa Bay and Houston in 2021 at 5.10, the Dodgers are averaging 2.33 in their last three games. 

Pitching matchup

Braves

Drew Smyly (9-3, 4.54 ERA) Drew Smyly will take the mound for Atlanta tonight.  The first-year Braves pitcher has been in the majors since 2012 and joined the Braves at the end of the 2020 season.  So far in 2021, he has a 4.54 ERA close to his career 4.18 ERA.  Smyly is 2-0 in the last month with 19 hits in as many innings and 11 ERs. He's also claimed 21 strikeouts and has four walks in that time.  This is his fifth start in August.

Dodgers

Julio Urias (14-3, 3.17 ERA) Jose Urias takes his league-leading 14 wins to the mound first for the Dodgers.  Urias' ERA is 3.17 in 2021, slightly better than his 3.27 ERA in the Dodgers World Series winning campaign in 2020.  Urias has been dependable as usual in four games in August giving up 13 hits in 15 innings with only 2 ERs and adding a further 21 batters struck out.  Urias started against the Braves earlier this season and 1-0.  In that game, he pitched 5 innings with an ERA of 1.80, surrendering four hits for one ER, two walks and five strikeouts.

Prediction

Both of these teams boast a 7-3 record in their last ten games.  The Dodgers are still chasing the division title and automatic playoff berth so expect them to get back to winning ways after one of their worst losses of the season. 

PICK: Dodgers -1.5 (-105)

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