Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies Prediction, 4/4/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies

Date: Sunday, April 4, 2021

Location: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Odds/Point Spread: Atlanta (-116) Philadelphia (-125)

Citizens Bank Park is the venue where Zach Eflin and the Philadelphia Phillies (28-32, 3rd in NL East last year) will take on the Atlanta Braves (35-25, 1st in NL East last season) on Sunday. The line on this contest has the Braves coming in at -116 and the Phillies are at -125. The total has been set at 8.5. The pitchers taking the mound will be Ian Anderson and Zach Eflin.

As a unit, the Atlanta Braves put up 5.8 runs per game last year, which put them at 2nd in MLB. They had 348 runs and held an on-base percentage of .349. The Braves accumulated 130 two-baggers as a unit and knocked 103 baseballs out of the park. They had 338 runs batted in and 556 base knocks for the previous season, and their team batting average sat at .268. Atlanta was slugging .483 and were called out on strikes 573 times, while getting the free base on 239 occasions.

Braves pitchers gave up 69 home runs and 288 runs (16th in the league). Their pitching staff walked 220 opposing hitters and their FIP was 4.42 as a squad for the previous season. Their strikeout to walk ratio was at 2.30 and their pitching staff earned a collective WHIP of 1.36. The Braves had a team earned run average of 4.41 for the prior year (15th in MLB), and their staff struck out 506 hitters. The Braves had dispatched 228 relief pitchers to the mound over the course of last season. The relievers inherited 101 base runners last season and 30.7% of those players ended up crossing the plate. They earned 13 saves last year and missed out on 6 of 19 save chances. The Braves bullpen had a save percentage of 68.4% and stepped onto the mound in 53 save situations. The bullpen a total of 31 holds last year (13th in MLB). Braves pitchers entered the contest with runners on in 65 outings in addition to 59 games with high leverage.

Anderson held a FIP of 2.54 and he earned an ERA+ of 251. He allowed 7 ER's over the course of last season with a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.9. He allowed 5.8 hits per nine innings and he held a WHIP of 1.082. His ERA sat at 1.95 and he punched out 41 batters. Ian Anderson conceded 21 hits in 32.1 innings last year. Anderson has taken the mound for 32 frames and has earned 41 strikeouts in his MLB career. His earned run average is 1.95 (7 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.082. He has conceded 21 base knocks (5.8 hits per nine innings) with 14 free passes. Anderson (3-2 career record) has a FIP of 2.54 while he has faced 138 batters during his time in the majors.

The Philadelphia Phillies had a team OBP of .342 in addition to a team batting average of .257 last year. They were rung up on 480 occasions (24th in the league) and were sitting with 500 base hits. Philadelphia knocked in 82 home runs over the course of the prior season in addition to 289 RBIs. The Phillies held a team SLG% of .439 and they scored 5.10 runs per contest (6th in the league). They recorded 90 two-baggers, while taking a walk 229 times as well as notching 306 runs.

The Phillies finished with a team WHIP of 1.479 in addition to having a FIP of 4.43 as a pitching staff for the prior year. They finished at 3rd in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 550. The Philadelphia pitching staff conceded 311 runs for the previous season while having a team ERA of 5.14 (284 earned runs yielded). Their strikeout to walk ratio came in at 2.88 (532 strikeouts against 185 free passes). They surrendered 80 long balls and they conceded 5.63 runs per 9 innings (27th in the league). Wrapping up the year with 25 save chances, the Phillies had 27 holds in addition to 14 blown saves. Philadelphia had relief pitchers step onto the hill in 53 save situations and they recorded 11 saves. Their relief pitchers stepped onto the hill in 64 games with high leverage and 84 contests with runners on. Philadelphia relief pitchers held an inherited score percentage of 31.0% out of their 121 inherited base runners. They ranked 29th in baseball holding a save rate of 44.0%, and they sent 189 relievers onto the field last year.

Eflin earned a K/BB ratio of 4.7 with 70 total K's and he was the owner of an ERA+ of 113. His WHIP was 1.27 and he held a FIP of 3.39 last season. He took the ball for 59.0 innings last season while giving up 9.2 H/9 (hits per 9 innings). Eflin allowed 60 total base hits while surrendering 26 ER's (3.97 ERA). Eflin (29-33 career record) has earned a 4.63 earned run average and has conceded 9.6 hits per 9 innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.01 and he has gone up against 2,050 hitters in his career. He has conceded a total of 246 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.333 and a FIP of 4.6. So far in his MLB career, Eflin has given up 508 hits while totaling 388 punch outs in 478 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game ATS?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Philadelphia (-125)

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