Atlanta Braves vs Miami Marlins Prediction, 5/18/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Atlanta Braves vs Miami Marlins

Date: Monday, May 18, 2026

Location: LoanDepot Park in Miami, FL

TV: MLB.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Atlanta (-122) Miami (+102)

LoanDepot Park is the location where the Miami Marlins (21-25) will attempt to defeat the Atlanta Braves (31-15) on Monday. The line on this matchup has Atlanta at -122 and Miami is coming in at +102. The betting total is set at 9. The expected starting pitchers will be Didier Fuentes and Max Meyer.

Atlanta is slugging .446 and have struck out 359 times, while taking a walk on 132 occasions. They have accounted for 235 runs batted in and 414 base knocks for the season, and their team batting average is sitting at .268. The Braves have hit 76 doubles as a unit and have hit 63 baseballs out of the park. They have a total of 240 runs while having a team on-base percentage of .329. As a squad, the Atlanta Braves are putting up 5.3 runs per outing, which puts them at 1st in MLB.

Get all of our MLB Parlay Picks

Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.50 and the pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.14. Braves pitchers have given up 44 home runs and 148 runs in total (1st in MLB). Atlanta has surrendered 298 base knocks (6.7 per 9 innings) and 133 earned runs. The Braves are sitting with a team ERA of 2.99 for the year (1st in baseball), and the staff has struck out 397 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 159 opposing players and their FIP sits at 3.86 as a unit so far this year.

The Braves have sent 140 relief pitchers to the hill so far this season. The relief pitchers have inherited 41 runners for the year and 29.3% of them crossing the plate. The relievers have tallied 27 holds this season (8th in baseball). Braves bullpen pitchers have come into the game with players on base 27 times as well as having 48 appearances in high leverage situations. They have recorded 15 saves over the course of the season and have blown 4 of their 19 chances to get a save. The Braves bullpen have accumulated a save rate of 78.9% and stepped onto the hill in 48 save situations.

The Atlanta Braves have amassed 1,203 putouts on the year, as well as 366 assists and 18 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .989 which is 9th in pro baseball, and they have turned 33 double plays. The Braves have turned 74.1% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 3,609 innings on the field, which has them ranked 1st in baseball.

Fuentes has taken the ball for 29 innings and has totaled 32 strikeouts in his pro baseball career. His ERA is 8.01 (26 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.541. He has conceded 34 base knocks (10.5 hits per nine innings) and has 11 walks. Fuentes (3-3 record in his career) has a FIP of 7.89 and he has gone up against 137 batters during his time in the major leagues.

The Miami Marlins have earned an OBP of .319 and a batting average of .242 on the year. They have been rung up on 362 occasions (21st in the league) and have recorded 360 hits. Miami has tallied 35 long balls on the campaign to go along with 177 runs batted in. The Marlins hold a team slugging % of .371 and they score 4.18 runs per game (19th in the league). They have recorded 68 doubles, while taking a walk 150 times and putting up 188 runs.

The Marlins hold a team WHIP of 1.284 with a FIP of 3.90 as a unit this season. They currently have a K/BB ratio of 8.60 (376 strikeouts against 169 free passes). They come in at 7th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 337. They have surrendered 39 dingers and they give up 4.63 runs per 9 innings (19th in the league). The Miami pitching staff have given up 203 runs this season while having a team ERA of 4.25 (186 earned runs yielded).

Sitting with 43 save situations, the Marlins have compiled 23 holds and 7 blown saves. Miami has called on relief pitchers to enter the game in 19 save opportunities and they have earned 12 saves. Miami relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 24.5% out of 49 inherited base runners. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 39 times in high leverage situations in addition to 33 occasions with runners on base. They sit at 13th in the league with a save percentage of 63.2%, and they have sent 137 bullpen pitchers to the hill for the year.

The Miami Marlins have turned 30 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .982 (28th in pro baseball). The Marlins have 361 assists, 29 errors and have accumulated 1,184 putouts this year. In 3,552 innings on the field, the Marlins have earned a efficiency on defense of 70.7% (10th in professional baseball).

Meyer (9-11 career win-loss mark) has earned a 4.75 ERA and has surrendered 9.2 hits per nine innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.00 and he has gone up against 762 hitters so far in his MLB career. He has conceded a total of 92 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.359 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.7. In his career, Meyer has allowed 179 hits and he has 174 punch outs in 174 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Miami (+102) and under 9 runs

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

Get MLB picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.