This is an oddly big game for the Braves.
A make-up from a previously rained out contest back on June 18, tonight’s tilt with the lowly Giants presents one of Atlanta’s very few remaining chances to play an opponent that’s below .500. If the Braves want to hold off the Dodgers and keep the two-seed in the National League, these are the games that they have to win.
Can Atlanta win its eighth in a row on Monday? Let’s dive into this tilt on the final day of August and make a couple picks on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Giants vs. Braves prediction, preview
Want to try a weird thought experiment? Attempt to figure out which Braves pitcher would start Game 2 of a playoff series. It’s a harder exercise than you’d initially believe. One option would be Bryce Elder, who gets the ball tonight for his 26th start of 2026. After horrendous campaigns in 2024 and 2025, Elder has undoubtedly been an improved version of himself this season. However, that’s still translated into a lot of inconsistency, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the difference between the RHP’s 3.95 ERA and his 4.45 FIP. Elder’s simply prone to the occasional blow-up. For instance, in his last seven outings, Elder’s actually held his opponent to a single earned run or fewer four times. Yet, thanks to a seven-run outburst by the Mets on August 10, Elder’s metrics in this generally successful stretch are a 3.51 ERA and an underwhelming 4.84 FIP. He’s a solid back-end rotation piece, but Atlanta might need him to be more. Therein lies the issue.
With all that said, if Elder wants to post a great start and build some confidence with the coaching staff and decision-makers, the Giants are an ideal matchup. Aside from Rafael Devers, who is having a quietly amazing season, San Francisco’s lineup is almost entirely comprised of youth and unproven talent at the moment. Not surprisingly, that inexperience shows in the numbers. In the month of August, the Giants sit 26th in batting average (.223), 27th in wOBA (.293) and 27th in wRC+ (85). Specific to the past two weeks, the club also sports the league’s third-highest strikeout rate (26.7%).
I can’t tell the future, but all that seems like a formula for Anthony Molina to not expect a lot of run support in his second appearance with San Francisco. The former Rockies arm made a nice first impression last Tuesday, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings against the Reds and only allowing a single hit in the process. Across 103.2 career innings at the MLB level, Molina is in possession of a ghastly 6.60 ERA and 6.33 xERA, yet the RHP has been rather proficient at Triple-A in 2026. Ironically, Molina started the year in Atlanta’s organization, and was traded to the Giants at the deadline. Revenge narrative, anyone?
Giants vs. Braves pick, best bet
Best Bet: Under 9.5 (-142)
Neither starting pitcher in this matchup is what I would call trustworthy, yet at the same time, neither lineup is humming on all cylinders. The Giants rank 27th in wOBA (.293) and 27th in wRC+ (85) in August, while the Braves have mustered just a 92 wRC+ in the month. 10 runs is a lot of runs.
Strong Lean: Matt Olson 2+ Total Bases (+100)
One Atlanta player who is hitting is Matt Olson, an All-Star that ranks eighth among qualified bats in ISO (.269). For his career, Anthony Molina has surrendered a .326 average and a .398 wOBA to opposing LHBs. Look for Olson to do a little bit of damage in an otherwise mundane affair.
