Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, 5/31/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves

Date: Monday, May 31, 2021

Location: Truist Park in Cumberland, GA

TV: Bally Sports South

Odds/Point Spread: Washington (+149) Atlanta (-162)

Joe Ross and the Washington Nationals (21-28, 5th in NL East) head to Truist Park on Monday where they'll meet the Atlanta Braves (24-26, 2nd in NL East). The Nationals open this matchup at +149 while the Braves are priced at -162. The total is set at 8. The starting pitchers are Joe Ross and Drew Smyly.

Click here to subscribe to our YouTube Channel

The Nationals have accrued 70 doubles as a squad and have hit 48 baseballs out of the park. Washington owns a slugging percentage of .393 and have been called out on strikes 396 times, while drawing a walk on 140 occasions. As a unit, the Washington Nationals are knocking in 3.9 runs per game, which is 23rd in MLB. They have accumulated 179 RBI's and 401 hits on the season, while their batting average comes in at .253. They have earned 185 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .321.

Nationals pitchers have relinquished 65 home runs and 206 runs (10th in baseball). They have walked 162 hitters and their FIP is 4.49 as a team on the campaign. They have a K/BB ratio of 2.52 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.27. The Nationals have compiled a team ERA of 4.14 on the season (17th in MLB), and their staff has struck out 409 hitters.

The Nationals have sent 160 relief pitchers to the hill on the season. The relievers have inherited 48 runners so far this season and 29.2% of those players crossed home plate. They have recorded 8 saves for the season and have blown 4 of their 12 save opportunities. The Nationals relief pitchers have recorded a save rate of 66.7% and stepped onto the hill in 33 save situations. The relief pitchers have accumulated 20 holds so far this year (25th in baseball). Nationals pitchers have entered the game with runners on base 32 times in addition to having 38 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Nationals have turned 71.1% of balls in play into outs out of 3,720 innings on the field, which has them sitting 9th in baseball. The Washington Nationals have accumulated 1,240 putouts over the course of the season, in addition to 417 assists and 26 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .985 which is 11th in baseball, and they have twisted 350 double plays.

Ross has taken the ball for 374 frames and has totaled 330 punch outs during his pro baseball career. His earned run average is 4.44 (185 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.377. He has surrendered 391 hits (9.4 hits per 9 innings) with 125 walks. Ross (23-23 mark in his career) has a FIP of 4.32 while he has faced 1,623 opposing hitters during his time in the majors.

The Atlanta Braves are sitting with a team OBP of .316 as well as a team batting average of .235 for the season. They have been rung up on 465 occasions (14th in MLB) and have a total of 385 hits. Atlanta has compiled 80 home runs for the year and 235 RBIs. The Braves hold a team slugging % of .438 and they score 4.86 runs per game (8th in the league). They have notched 79 doubles, while walking 173 times and putting up 243 runs.

The Braves have a WHIP of 1.353 with a FIP of 4.38 as a unit for the year. They rank 20th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 418. The Atlanta pitching staff have relinquished 245 runs on the season while having an ERA of 4.35 (212 earned runs yielded). Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.61 (460 strikeouts vs 176 bases on balls). They have conceded 67 home runs and they give up 5.02 runs per 9 innings (23rd in MLB).

Sitting with 47 save situations, the Braves have compiled 29 holds and also 8 blown saves. Atlanta has called on bullpen pitchers to take the mound in 17 save opportunities and they have tallied 9 saves. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 79 times in high leverage situations in addition to 49 occasions with runners on. Atlanta relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 34.2% out of their 76 inherited base runners. They rank 25th in MLB with a save rate of 52.9%, and they have sent 182 relievers to the mound this season.

The Atlanta Braves have turned 34 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .986 (5th in the majors). The Braves have 457 assists, 26 errors and have a tally of 1,318 putouts for the season. In their 3,954 innings played, the Braves have earned a efficiency on defense of 68.8% (21st in MLB).

During his pro baseball career, Smyly has allowed 705 base hits while he has accumulated 747 strikeouts in 747 innings pitched. Smyly (37-37 mark in his career) has earned a 4.18 earned run average and has surrendered 8.5 hits per nine innings. He has given up a total of 347 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.261 and having a FIP of 4.3. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.14 and he has gone up against 3,134 hitters in his pro baseball career.

Who will win tonight's baseball game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Washington (+149)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here