Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies Picks and Predictions August 20th 2024

At 7:20 PM ET, the Phillies and Braves will face off in an NL East matchup. This one is taking place at Truist Park in Atlanta, and the Braves are favored on the money line (+109). The Phillies are -130.

Reynaldo Lopez is starting for the Braves, and they are 66-58 overall. The Phillies have Zack Wheeler on the mound, and they are 73-51, putting them first in the NL East. BSSO is carrying this game on TV.

Zack Wheeler will be looking to build off his last outing, where he gave up just one earned run in six innings of work. In that start vs. the Nationals, he gave up three hits and issued zero walks. Wheeler finished with six strikeouts in the outing. Looking at his overall numbers, Wheeler has made 24 starts, and opponents are batting .187 this season. His record is 12-5, and his ERA is 2.72. Wheeler has a total of 18 quality starts this year. So far, he has an ERA of 3.91 on the road compared to 2.68 at home.

Philadelphia comes into today’s game as one of the league’s top-scoring offenses, averaging 4.9 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.3 runs per game. Overall, they are 6th in team batting average and have the 5th best on-base percentage in the league. The Phillies’ offense has also done a good job of avoiding strikeouts this season, as they have the 11th fewest strikeouts in the league.

Over his last six games, Alec Bohm has gone 6/22 with a home run and five RBIs. He is also on a five-game hitting streak. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are the Phillies’ top power threats, with Schwarber’s 28 homers leading the team and Harper’s 26 homers coming in as the 2nd most on the team. Harper is also 3rd on the team with 73 RBIs.

Braves starter Reynaldo López has made 19 appearances this season and has a record of 7-4. His ERA for the season is an impressive 2.06, along with a WHIP of 1.19. Lopez has turned in 10 quality starts this year and is averaging 8.77 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, he finished with a no-decision, going three innings and not giving up a run on two hits. Before that, he had lost two straight starts. The right-hander has allowed at least one homer in three straight outings.

For the season, the Braves are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 16th in the league. They have been a better offensive team on the road, averaging 4.5 runs per game. As a team, they are batting just .241, but they are 4th in the league in home runs and have the 6th best isolated power figure in the league. Marcell Ozuna has been a big part of their offense, as he is batting .309 for the season and is 3rd in the league in RBIs (93) and home runs (36). Ozuna is also on a four-game hitting streak and has gone 9/18 in his last five games.

Over his last five games, Ramón Laureano has two homers and is batting .353. This has helped him drive in four runs over that stretch. Heading into the game, Laureano is on a three-game hitting streak. Matt Olson is 2nd on the team in RBIs (63) but is batting just .230 for the season.

Braves Face Crucial Series Against Phillies Amid Injury Crisis

The Atlanta Braves are gearing up for a pivotal three-game home series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night, but they’re doing so with a roster plagued by injuries. The latest and most significant setback is the loss of starting third baseman Austin Riley, who fractured his right hand after being hit by a pitch during Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels. Riley is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, dealing a major blow to the Braves as they battle for a playoff spot.

Braves Hit Hard by Injuries

Austin Riley’s injury is just the latest in a string of devastating blows to the Braves’ lineup. Riley, a crucial player with a .256 batting average, 19 home runs, and 56 RBIs this season, is now sidelined, potentially until the end of the regular season. His absence leaves a significant gap in both the Braves’ offense and defense.

The Braves’ injury woes don’t end there. They’ve already lost 2023 MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. to a knee injury and Cy Young candidate Spencer Strider to an elbow injury, both for the rest of the season. Additionally, second baseman Ozzie Albies is out until September with a wrist injury, and key reliever A.J. Minter is dealing with a hip issue. These injuries have severely weakened a Braves team that had high hopes for the postseason.

Braves’ Roster Moves and Pitching Strategy

In response to these setbacks, the Braves have activated right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (7-4, 2.06 ERA) to start the series opener. Lopez, who missed three weeks due to right forearm inflammation, will be eased back into action as the team remains cautious given his heavy workload this season. Lopez has a solid track record against the Phillies, boasting a 2-0 record and a 2.57 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) against them, including six scoreless innings in a win on July 7.

Phillies in Strong Position with Wheeler on the Mound

The Phillies, currently seven games ahead of the Braves in the National League East, are in a much stronger position as they continue their playoff push. Philadelphia will counter with right-hander Zack Wheeler (12-5, 2.72 ERA), who has consistently dominated the Braves. Since joining the Phillies in 2020, Wheeler has a 6-2 record and a 2.16 ERA in 14 starts against Atlanta. He opened this season with six scoreless innings against the Braves and has allowed just four combined runs in his last three starts.

Phillies’ Momentum and Team Chemistry

Despite being out of playoff contention, the Phillies are focused on finishing the season strong, particularly with their starting rotation. Manager John Schneider has emphasized the importance of managing pitch counts for his starters, including Wheeler, Kevin Gausman, and Chris Bassitt, to ensure they stay sharp through the end of the season.

Playoff Stakes and Series Outlook

This series carries significant implications for both teams. The Braves are clinging to the final wild-card spot, holding just a two-game lead over the New York Mets. With their lineup weakened by injuries, they face an uphill battle against a Phillies team that is looking to extend its lead in the division and maintain momentum heading into the postseason.

As the Braves take on the Phillies, the outcome of this series could be pivotal for Atlanta’s playoff hopes. With Riley sidelined and the team’s depth being tested, the Braves will need strong performances from their remaining players to stay in contention. Meanwhile, the Phillies will aim to capitalize on the Braves’ misfortunes and strengthen their position in the National League East.

Fans can expect a high-stakes battle as the Braves fight to keep their season alive and the Phillies look to continue their winning ways.

Today’s Phillies vs. Braves matchup should feature plenty of offense, as this is our highest projected scoring game of the day. Our lean would be to take the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Phillies to pick up the win. Between the two starters, Zack Wheeler has the 6th best strikeout projection compared to Reynaldo López, who has the 5th best.