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Charlie Morton will start for the Braves on Sunday, and they are facing off against the Angels, who will be sending Jack Kochanowicz to the mound. This interleague matchup is set to get started at 4:07 PM ET from Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA.
The Braves are favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -162 compared to the Angels at +137. Sunday’s over/under line is currently at 9 runs, and the forecast for the game calls for temperatures in the low 70s with scattered clouds. In the NL East, the Braves are in 2nd place with a record of 65-58, while the Angels are 5th in the AL West at 53-70.
Atlanta vs. Los Angeles Key Information
- Teams: Braves at Angels
- Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim Anaheim
- Date: Sunday, August 18th
- Betting Odds ATL -162 | LAA +137 O/U 9
The Braves Can Win If…
Right-hander Charlie Morton gets the start for the Braves today as he faces the Angels on the road. He has made 22 starts this year and has a record of 6-7 with an ERA of 4.40. Morton’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.30. In his 22 appearances, he has turned in 10 quality starts. Looking back at his last outing, Morton finished with a no-decision against the Giants. In that start, he went six innings, giving up two earned runs, and coming away with eight strikeouts. Before that outing, he had lost two straight starts.
Marcell Ozuna comes into the game with a three-game hitting streak and has gone 12/29 in his last seven games, including one home run. For the season, he is batting .307 with 36 home runs and 93 RBIs, which are both good for the 3rd best marks in the league. Matt Olson is 2nd on the team with 21 homers but is batting just .229 for the season.
Overall, the Braves are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 15th in the league. They have been a good home run hitting team and are near the top of the league in isolated power. As a team, they are batting .241, which is 13th in the league, and have the 4th best home run total in the league.
- The Braves are 5-5 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Braves are 2-3 vs. the run line.
- Atlanta has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
- The Braves have an average of 6.0 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten road games, the Braves are 6-4
- Looking back across the Braves last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
- Atlanta has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Braves have averaged 6.1 runs per game on offense
The Angels Can Win If…
Jack Kochanowicz is getting the start for the Angels today as they take on the Braves. This will be his first home start of the season, and he is coming off a win in his last outing. Kochanowicz went 7 2/3 innings, giving up 2 earned runs and striking out 6 in that start.
Heading into today’s game, the Angels are 26th in the league in runs scored, averaging just 4 runs per contest. This is a team that has been even worse at home, averaging just 4 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .236, which is 16th in the league, and their on-base percentage of .306 is also below the league average. One area where they have been strong is avoiding strikeouts, as they are 15th in the league in this category.
Over his last nine games, Zach Neto has gone 13/39 with two homers and eight RBIs. For the season, he is batting .263 with 17 homers. Jo Adell is the team’s home run leader with 18, but he is batting just .202 for the season. Adell has also gone deep twice in his last nine games, but he has just eight hits over that stretch.
- The Angels are 4-6 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Angels are 1-4 vs. the run line.
- Los Angeles has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
- The Angels have an average of 2.2 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten home games, the Angels are 7-3
- Looking back across the Angels last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
- Los Angeles has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Angels have averaged 4.9 runs per game on offense
Michael Harris II: The Braves’ Rising Star
Michael Harris II has quickly become a fan favorite for the Braves. Since his debut in 2022, when he snagged the National League Rookie of the Year award and ranked 13th in NL MVP voting, Harris has continued to impress. Now in his third MLB season, Harris is showing why the Braves see him as a cornerstone of their team. After missing two months with a hamstring injury, Harris is back and making waves.
On Saturday, Harris went 3-for-5, including a double and scoring two runs, helping the Braves crush the Angels 11-3. His performance shows just how important he is as the Braves look to clinch another win in the series finale.
Harris credits much of his success to his mentor, Marquis Grissom, a former MLB star who played 17 seasons, including two with the Braves. Grissom has been guiding Harris since he was just 15 years old.
“I owe a lot to him,” Harris said. “He taught me how to get ready for games and handle different situations. He’s won multiple Gold Gloves, and that’s something I want to do too. Listening to his stories and advice has been huge for me early in my career.”
Pitching Matchup: Veteran vs. Newcomer
Sunday’s game will see a clash of experience and fresh talent on the mound:
Charlie Morton (Atlanta Braves): The Braves are sending right-hander Charlie Morton to pitch. With a 6-7 record and a 4.40 ERA this season, Morton has been a solid presence for Atlanta. In his last start, he allowed just two runs over six innings against the San Francisco Giants, a game the Braves eventually won in extra innings. Morton has also done well against the Angels in the past, holding a 4-2 record with a 3.90 ERA in 11 career starts against them. His experience could be key as the Braves look to take the series.
Jack Kochanowicz (Los Angeles Angels): On the other side, the Angels are starting right-hander Jack Kochanowicz, making just his fourth start of the season. Kochanowicz, with a 1-2 record and a 7.98 ERA, grabbed his first win of the year in his last outing, giving up two runs over 7 2/3 innings against the Washington Nationals. But facing a powerful Braves lineup will be a big challenge for the young pitcher, especially given his limited time in the majors.
Angels’ Bullpen: A Work in Progress
The Angels’ bullpen has seen some big changes after the trade deadline, losing top relievers like Carlos Estevez and Luis Garcia. This has left manager Ron Washington experimenting with new options to close out games. One bright spot came on Wednesday when the Angels picked up Brock Burke off waivers from the Texas Rangers.
Burke, who had an impressive 1.97 ERA in 2022, has struggled this season with a 9.22 ERA and a fractured hand that kept him out for two months. However, Burke made a solid debut for the Angels on Friday, throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings and getting out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam. If Burke can find his groove, he might be just what the Angels need to stabilize their bullpen as they finish out the season.
“I just need to get out there and pitch,” Burke said. “I haven’t had much consistency this year. But once I start feeling good and get on a roll, I think everything will fall into place.”
Series Recap and What’s Next
The series is tied at 1-1, with the Angels winning a tight 3-2 game on Friday and the Braves bouncing back with a commanding 11-3 victory on Saturday. As both teams prepare for the final game, the pressure is on. The Braves want to keep their momentum going, while the Angels are eager to see how their young players, especially Kochanowicz, handle the challenge of facing one of the league’s best teams.
Conclusion: Harris Leading the Charge as Braves Aim to Win Series
Michael Harris II has already shown he’s got the talent and maturity to be a star for the Braves for years to come. As Atlanta looks to secure the series win, Harris’ contributions, along with Charlie Morton’s veteran presence, could be the difference. For the Angels, this game is another chance to evaluate their young talent and prepare for the future, with Kochanowicz and the evolving bullpen taking center stage.
The Lean
Our lean in this Braves vs. Angels matchup is to take the Angels to win straight-up. We have this as the lowest-scoring game of the day, and our lean would be to take the under. The Angels have the 4th worst team hits projection, but we like Jack Kochanowicz’s strikeout potential. He has the 7th best projection among today’s starters.
