<p>A hot Nationals team looks to make some ground in the NL East when they meet the first-place Braves for the opener of a four-game divisional battle down in Georgia starting Thursday night. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
</p>
<h2>MLB Betting Odds </h2>
<p>Thursday's MLB betting odds opened Washington at around -110 over Atlanta, with an over/under of 9.5 runs. Early betting action then bumped that line 20 cents, up to about -130.
</p>
<h2>Nationals vs. Braves Set-Up </h2>
<p>Washington just split two games in Baltimore, losing Wednesday's series finale 9-2. Just before that, the Nationals took two of three games from Philadelphia, and just before that they took two of three from Kansas City. Going back a bit further Washington is 13-3 over its last 16 games.
</p>
<p>Atlanta, meanwhile, just dropped two of three games in Milwaukee, losing Wednesday's series rubber match 5-4. Just before that the Braves swept three games from San Diego, and just before that they took two of three from Miami. So Atlanta is 8-3 over its last 11 games.
</p>
<p>At 58-39 overall the Braves lead the NL East by 6.5 games over the 50-44 Nationals. Atlanta also trails the Dodgers by 5.5 games in the battle for the best record in the National League.
</p>
<p>Washington, meanwhile, also now leads the National League wild-card race by a game and a half over Milwaukee.
</p>
<p>The Nats lead the season series with the Braves three games to two.
</p>
<h2>Thursday's Starting Arms</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/40147&quot; title="Julio Tehran Pitching Logs">Teheran</a>, by our strict accounting, is only 7/20 on quality starts this season but two for his last two. Last Saturday he limited the Padres to two earned runs and three hits through six innings of a 7-5 Atlanta victory. And just before that he held the Marlins scoreless on five hits through six frames.
</p>
<p>On the season the Braves are 13-7 with Teheran, 3-0 over his last three starts.
</p>
<p>Over three starts against Washington, last season Teheran allowed nine runs and 14 hits through 12 1/3 innings. Atlanta lost two of those three games.
</p>
<p><aside><br />
<div class="promo">
<img alt="Bovada-200.gif" src="/sites/default/files/images/inline/bovada-200.gif" style="width:200px;height:28px;" /><br />
Get an additional $250 in Sign-Up Bonus to Pad your Sportsbetting Bankroll!<br />
<a class="advblue" href="javascript:GoTo(Bovada)" title="Bovada Sportsbook">CLICK HERE </a>
</div>
<p></aside></p>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/40047&quot; title="Stephen Strasburg Pitching Logs">Strasburg</a> is 11/19 on quality starts this year and two for his last two. Last Friday he tossed six innings of seven-hit, shutout ball in a 4-0 Nationals victory over the Phillies. And just before that he threw 7 1/3 innings of two-hit, shutout ball, with 14 strikeouts, against Miami.
</p>
<p>Washington is 12-7 with Strasburg this season, 4-0 over his last four starts.
</p>
<p>Over his last five starts against the Braves, three last season and two this season, Strasburg allowed 14 ER and 28 hits through 32 1/3 innings. The Nationals won three of those five games.
</p>
<h2>Thursday's Batting Splits </h2>
<p>Washington is batting .244/.318/.415 against right-handed pitching this season.
</p>
<p>Atlanta is batting .259/.335/.453 against RH pitching this season.
</p>
<h2>The Bullpens </h2>
<p>The Nationals bullpen owns a 5.99 ERA this season, worst in the Majors, and a 1.54 WHIP, while allowing an .802 OPS. Numbers like those “help” this unit rank among the bottom handful of bullpens in Baseball at the moment.
</p>
<p>The Braves pen owns a 3.85 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP while allowing a .740 OPS.
</p>
<h2>Totals Report</h2>
<ul>
<li>Unders are 44-43 in Nationals games this season.</li>
<li>Overs are 49-42 in Braves games this season.</li>
<li>Totals are split 2-2 in Nationals-Braves games this season.</li>
<li>Overs are 26-18 in games played at SunTrust Park this season.</li>
</ul>
<p><section></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1080463">Washington at Atlanta MLB Match-up Stats</a> </span>
</li>
</ul>
<p></section></p>