MLB Odds: It is a matchup between the top two teams in the National League East on Sunday night on ESPN as the Washington Nationals visit the Atlanta Braves. The pressure is on the Braves to have a good series as they have fallen behind the Nationals in the division. It is looking more and more like only one team from this division will make the playoffs and it could be the Braves who miss out. Here is a look at Sunday’s matchup and MLB predictions.
Sunday’s Probable Pitchers – Gio Gonzalez vs. Alex Wood
Gio Gonzalez has not pitched well of late and he comes into the contest at 6-8 with a 4.01 ERA. Gio allowed four earned runs in just over six innings last time out against the Mets and he has allowed nine earned runs and 14 hits in his last 9.2 innings. He has lost his past three starts overall and has a 5.40 ERA in those starts. He has been awful in his career against the Braves with a 2-7 mark and a 5.31 ERA.
Alex Wood is 7-9 on the season but he has a good ERA at 3.20. He has allowed one or no earned runs in three of his past four starts. He faced the unenviable task of facing King Felix and the Mariners last time out and got the loss. He has averaged 6 innings per start in his last three starts with a 3.00 ERA but his record is 0-2. He has pitched really well against the Nationals with a 1-1 record and a 1.57 ERA.
Series Notes
The Atlanta Braves have usually dominated this series but they did lose a couple of games in Washington back in late June and it appears the series edge could be tilting towards the Nats. Four of the last five meetings in Atlanta have gone over the total.
MLB Predictions
It is hard to make a case for taking Gio and the Nats considering his career numbers against Atlanta so we’ll look for the Braves to win this one and for the game to go under the MLB odds.
