Things have gotten grim for the Phillies over the past week. First, staff ace Zack Wheeler underwent season-ending surgery due to thoracic outlet syndrome. Next, the team dropped three straight to the Mets at Citi Field. Philadelphia will attempt to turn things around at home on Thursdaywhen they face the Braves. Despite Atlanta’s 61-72 record, there’s still plenty of star power on this roster. Which of these NL East rivals will come out on top tonight? Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Thursday’s showdown between the Braves and the Phillies.
The Phillies are favorites (-187) over the Braves, with the over/under set at 9.5 runs. Let’s break down which side has the edge on DraftKings Sportsbook entering tonight’s contest.
Braves vs. Phillies prediction, preview
In the past, Aaron Nola would be a solid choice to help his club break out of a slump. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the former All-Star has not looked like himself in 2025. Between injuries and underperformance, the right-hander has notched an abysmal 6.52 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 11 starts. To be fair, Nola did toss six innings of two-run ball vs. the Nationals last week. Still, it’ll take a lot more than one start for Phillies fans to feel comfortable when he’s on the mound.
It doesn’t help that Nola will have to go against one of the National League’s hottest offenses. Since the All-Star Break, Atlanta has scored the third-most runs in baseball (206). During that stretch, seven different hitters have notched an OPS of .750 or greater. That includes Michael Harris II, arguably the hottest hitter in the sport. Over his last 20 games, the center fielder is slashing .329/.345/.634. Fellow outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. has dominated in this spot, going 19-for-55 (.345) in his career vs. Nola.
As good as the Braves have been at the plate, pitching has been a different story. Injuries have forced Atlanta to get creative on the mound, bringing in several experienced arms to eat some innings. That includes Cal Quantrill, recently picked up after being cut by the Marlins. Through 114.1 innings of work, the veteran has posted a 5.51 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 85 strikeouts. During his first start with his new team, the righty surrendered three runs in 4.2 innings vs. the Mets. In two appearances this season vs. Philadelphia, Quantrill has coughed up ten earned runs (12.26 ERA).
Braves vs. Phillies pick, best bet
Best Bet: Braves vs. Phillies over 9.5 total runs (-111)
No matter how you slice it, it’s impossible to trust either Nola or Quantrill on Thursday. The former of the two has a better track record, but he’s looked off all season. The latter has shown nothing over the past few months to prove he can pitch against this Phillies lineup. Rather than back a mediocre arm, bank on both of these talented lineups to rack up the runs tonight.
