Braves vs. Nationals Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Sunday, April 2, 2023

April 2, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

The Atlanta Braves (2-0) and Matt Olson (2 HR in his last game) are favored (-182) on the moneyline for their matchup with the Washington Nationals (0-2) on Sunday at 1:35 PM ET on MLB Network.

Atlanta’s Jared Shuster gets the start, and he’ll go against Washington’s MacKenzie Gore.

Braves vs. Nationals Odds

Braves odds to win: -182
Nationals odds to win: +156
Spread: Braves -1.5
Total: 8.5 runs

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Game Time and Information

Date: Sunday, April 2, 2023
Time: 1:35 PM ET
TV: MLB Network

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Who Will Win Braves vs. Nationals?

Braves and Nationals Betting Trends (2022)

The Braves were favored on the moneyline 130 total times last season. They went 88-42 in those games.

Atlanta had a record of 41-12 in games it played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -182 or shorter last year (77.4%).

The Nationals were underdogs in 141 games last season and won 47 (33.3%) of those contests.

Last season, Washington won 23 of its 75 games, or 30.7%, when it was the underdog by at least +156 on the moneyline.

The Braves combined with their opponents to go over the total 82 times last season for an 82-75-8 record against the over/under.

The Nationals and their opponents hit the over in 74 of their 159 games with a total last season.

Braves Stats & Insights (2022)

Last season the Braves were the third-highest scoring team in MLB action averaging 4.9 runs per game (789 total).

Atlanta ranked second-best in MLB last season with 243 total home runs.

The Braves had the seventh-best batting average in the majors (.253).

The club struck out 9.2 times per game, the second-worst average in MLB.

The pitching staff for the Braves had a collective 9.7 K/9 last season, which ranked second in MLB.

Atlanta’s 3.45 team ERA ranked fifth across all MLB pitching staffs.

Nationals Stats & Insights (2022)

The Nationals were among the lowest scoring teams in the league, ranking 26th with just 603 total runs (3.7 per game) last season.

Washington ranked 28th in Major League Baseball with just 136 home runs as a team.

The Nationals ranked 11th in MLB with a .248 team batting average.

Washington ranked fourth in MLB in strikeouts per game at 7.5 whiffs per contest.

The Nationals had a 7.8 K/9 last season as a pitching staff, which ranked 23rd in the majors.

Washington pitchers had a combined ERA of 5.01 last year, which ranked 29th in MLB.

Braves Key Players to Watch (2022)

Shuster will make his first start of the season for the Braves.

Austin Riley hit 38 home runs last season while also driving in 93 runs.

Olson was a key run producer with a .240 average, 34 homers and 103 RBI.

Sean Murphy finished last season with 18 home runs, 66 RBI and a batting average of .250.

Michael Harris II collected 123 hits, posted an OBP of .339 and a .514 SLG.

Nationals Key Players to Watch (2022)

Gore gets the nod for the Nationals and will make his first start of the season.

Lane Thomas hit 17 home runs and had 52 runs batted in last season, while putting up a batting average of .241.

Keibert Ruiz had 22 doubles, seven home runs and 30 walks while batting .251.

Jeimer Candelario hit .217 a season ago with 19 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 29 walks.

Joey Meneses had 14 doubles, 13 home runs and 17 walks while batting .324.

Braves and Nationals Injuries

Braves: Kyle Wright: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Raisel Iglesias: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Kolby Allard: 60 Day IL (Oblique), Tyler Matzek: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Huascar Ynoa: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Max Fried: day-to-day (Hamstring)

Nationals: Corey Dickerson: 10 Day IL (Calf), Carter Kieboom: 10 Day IL (Finger), Israel Pineda: 10 Day IL (Finger), Tanner Rainey: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Stephen Strasburg: 60 Day IL (Ribs/shoulder), Victor Arano: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Cade Cavalli: 60 Day IL (Elbow)