The MLB just emerged from the All-Star break yesterday and every single team takes the diamond on Saturday as the league gets back into its usual rhythm.
Atlanta’s Truist Park just hosted baseball’s star-studded exhibition, but several of those All-Stars hung around for this series between the Braves and New York Yankees. This matchup looks like a fun one as Aaron Judge takes on Ronald Acuna Jr. in a battle between MVP-caliber talents.
Here’s a Braves vs. Yankees prediction and pick on DraftKings Sportsbook for this contest between contenders.
Braves vs. Yankees prediction, preview
The Braves’ season has been one to forget for the most part with a 43-53 record and fourth-place spot among the NL East as things currently stand. A string of injuries have decimated the pitching staff and caused much of this slide, but there are clear problems with Atlanta’s typically-great lineup and few answers for what to do as the trade deadline approaches.
Last night’s 7-3 win did bring a glimpse of hope, although a brief one. The Braves tallied nine hits on the night via seven players as Ronald Acuna Jr. and Drake Baldwin each tallied multi-hit efforts. It’s worth noting one of Atlanta’s top prospects Nacho Alvarez Jr. is up with the MLB squad to replace Austin Riley, who currently remains on the IL, though the young third baseman hasn’t seen much success in his first few big league games of the season. The Braves’ offense as a whole sits just 20th in AVG and OPS this year with the 22nd-most runs scored, so there’s not much scoring support for a pitching staff that still ranks 12th in ERA and WHIP on the season despite having three notable starters on IL.
The New York Yankees are second in a very competitive AL East at 53-44 with a very slim one-game lead over the third-place Boston Red Sox. New York still looks like one of the best teams in the MLB, so last night’s loss feels like a momentary setback they can easily rebound from tonight.
The Yankees knocked eight hits in yesterday’s game from seven different players but the scoreboard didn’t reflect the showing as it usually would. The Bronx Bombers are third in runs this year with the MLB’s fourth-best AVG and best OPS at .790. Their pitching staff doesn’t post quite as impressive of numbers at 15th in ERA but they do fall sixth in WHIP with the fifth-most strikeouts. If they can iron out the earned runs, a path through the playoffs looks much simpler. If one thing is for certain, the Yankees will load up at the trade deadline later this month.
Braves vs. Yankees pick, best bet
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Yankees as -131 favorites on the Moneyline. The Braves are +107 underdogs at their own ballpark with a run total of 9.5.
DraftKings Network just introduced a new probable pitchers page to track daily starter matchups, so be sure to check that out ahead of the game! In Saturday’s contest, righty Will Warren (4.63 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 112 SO) takes the mound for New York against Atlanta southpaw Joey Wentz (6.32 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 34 SO).
Tonight marks Wentz’s first start of the season, which means the Yankees should be licking their chops at the opportunity. The 27-year-old has bounced between three teams this season and it’s easy to see why based on his stat line. That ERA and WHIP are quite inflated and the right-hander’s Savant page includes a sea of low-end rankings below the 50th percentile in most metrics. New York’s bats should have a field day to start this game and jump out ahead early.
Best bet: NY Yankees over 1.5 total runs in first three innings (-110)
Click the odds on this bet to tail!
