Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 5/6/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals

Date: Thursday, May 6, 2021

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: MASN/MASN2

Odds/Point Spread: Atlanta (+105) Washington (-115)

Drew Smyly and the Atlanta Braves (13-16, 4th in NL East) go to Nationals Park on Thursday where they'll take on the Washington Nationals (12-13, 2nd in NL East). The Braves open this contest at +105 while the Nationals are priced at -115. The O/U has been set at 9.5. The expected starting pitchers are Drew Smyly and Jon Lester.

The Braves have accumulated 47 two-baggers as a unit and have hit 42 baseballs out of the park. Atlanta has a slugging percentage of .427 and have struck out 252 times, while drawing a walk on 106 occasions. As a team, the Atlanta Braves are putting up 4.7 runs per game, which puts them at 12th in the league. They have accrued 130 runs batted in and 223 hits for the year, and their team batting average is sitting at .237. They have notched a total of 135 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .323.

Braves pitchers have given up 42 long balls and 146 runs (24th in MLB). Their pitching staff has walked 109 batters and their FIP comes in at 4.64 as a squad on the year. They have a K/BB ratio of 2.46 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.40. The Braves have compiled a team ERA of 4.88 so far this year (25th in the league), and they have rung up 268 hitters.

The Braves have dispatched 103 relievers to the mound on the campaign. The relief pitchers have inherited 37 base runners over the course of the season with 27.0% of those runners crossed the plate. They have compiled 6 saves on the year and have not converted 4 of their 10 chances to get a save. The Braves bullpen have a save percentage of 60.0% and has entered the game in 30 save situations. The bullpen have a total of 19 holds so far this season (6th in the league). Braves relief pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 24 times and also have had 46 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Atlanta Braves have earned a total of 748 putouts so far this season, in addition to 259 assists and 13 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .987 which is 4th in professional baseball, and have accumulated 209 double plays. The Braves have converted 68.8% of balls hit into play into outs out of 2,244 innings on the field, which has them sitting 22nd in the majors.

Smyly has taken the mound for 729 innings and is sitting with 732 punch outs in his MLB career. Smyly (35-37 record in his career) has earned a FIP of 4.26 while he has faced 3,062 hitters during his time in the majors. His ERA is 4.23 (343 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.265. He has given up 691 hits (8.5 hits per 9 innings) with 232 free passes.

The Nationals hold a slugging % of .379 and they score 3.52 runs per game (28th in the league). They have hit 34 two-baggers, while getting a free base 66 times and scoring 88 runs. Washington has accounted for 23 home runs so far this season to go along with 86 runs batted in. They have struck out on 207 instances (29th in MLB) and have accounted for 202 base knocks. The Washington Nationals have a team on-base percentage of .317 and a team batting average of .250 over the course of the season.

The Washington pitching staff have conceded 107 runs this season while holding an ERA of 4.06 (97 earned runs conceded). They have yielded 38 HR's and they give up 4.48 runs per 9 innings (18th in baseball). The Nationals are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.242 with a FIP of 4.95 as a pitching staff so far this season. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.25 (205 strikeouts against 91 bases on balls). They are currently ranked 2nd in the league as a pitching staff in total hits surrendered with 176.

Washington bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 36.8% of 19 inherited runners. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 17 times in high leverage situations and on 11 occasions with runners on base. With 11 save situations, the Nationals have earned 7 holds in addition to 1 blown save. They rank 7th in baseball with a save rate of 75.0%, and they have dispatched 82 relief pitchers to the mound this year. Washington has had relief pitchers take the mound in 4 save opportunities and they have come away with 3 saves.

In 1,935 innings on the diamond, the Nationals have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 73.5% (2nd in MLB). The Washington Nationals have turned 22 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .983 (19th in the majors). The Nationals have accrued 210 assists, 15 errors and have 645 putouts so far this season.

During his MLB career, Lester has conceded 2,456 base hits while he has tallied 2,398 punch outs in 2,603 innings. Lester (193-111 win-loss mark in his career) has earned a 3.59 ERA while surrendering 8.5 hits per nine innings. He has allowed 1,040 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.266 and a FIP of 3.7. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.86 and he has faced 10,881 batters during his MLB career.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Washington (-115) and under 9.5 runs

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