As the MLB regular season winds down, a lot of teams have shifted their priorities. Many continue to race for the playoffs, while others turn their attention to the offseason and the next year ahead. The Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves are two teams that fall into the latter group. Long counted out of the playoff race, these two teams are using their final days of the season to evaluate their rosters. Even though it doesn’t count towards the postseason, it still produces some exciting results.
The Braves come in as -194 Moneyline favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at nine runs. Let’s dig into a preview, prediction, and best bet for this Nationals vs. Braves matchup.
Nationals at Braves prediction, preview
Washington will send a rookie to the mound in this game. 26-year-old left-hander Andrew Alvarez makes his fifth, and likely final, start of the year in this one. He’s looking to create a lasting impression after turning some heads in his first few games.
He doesn’t wow with velocity with an average fastball of 91.3 MPH. But Alvarez has kept hitters off balance in his first few starts and refuses to let the ball be driven as over 61% of balls in play against him have been hit on the ground. His 1.8% barrel rate would be far and away the best mark in the majors if he qualified. Another strong start to end the year would boost his chances of making the Opening Day roster next season.
Bryce Elder is another youngster trying to make his case for next year. Unfortunately, that case is much more difficult. The right-hander has a 4.65 expected ERA according to Baseball Savant; he doesn’t miss many bats and allows a lot of hard contact. The Braves will likely seek to retool in the offseason, and if they have their way, it’s unlikely he begins the year in the starting rotation.
Washington’s depleted bullpen nullifies much of the advantage that Alvarez creates on the mound. However, the Nationals do have a significant edge while the starters are out.
