Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies Prediction, 4/17/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies

Date: Friday, April 17, 2026

Location: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Odds/Point Spread: Atlanta (-196) Philadelphia (+162)

Citizens Bank Park is the location where the Philadelphia Phillies (8-10) will try to defeat the Atlanta Braves (12-7) on Friday. The moneyline on this contest has Atlanta at -196 and Philadelphia is opening at +162. The total is set at 8.5. The pitchers who are expected to start are Martin Perez and Taijuan Walker.

Atlanta is slugging .449 and have been called out on strikes 142 times, while taking a walk on 62 occasions. They have accounted for 103 runs batted in in addition to 180 base knocks this year, and their average at the plate sits at .276. The Braves have accrued 37 doubles as a team and have knocked 24 baseballs out of the stadium. They have tallied 106 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .341. As a team, the Atlanta Braves are recording 5.6 runs per game, which has them sitting at 2nd in the league.

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The Braves have an ERA of 2.93 so far this year (1st in the league), and they have struck out 155 batters. Braves pitchers have yielded 15 home runs and 62 runs (2nd in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 54 opposing hitters and their FIP comes in at 3.58 as a squad over the course of the season. Atlanta has given up 132 hits (7.0 per 9 innings) in addition to 55 earned runs. Their K/BB ratio is 2.87 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.10.

Braves relief pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 14 times and also have had 15 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have recorded 9 holds on the season (19th in MLB). The Braves relievers have recorded a save rate of 100.0% and have stepped onto the mound in 15 save situations. They have earned 6 saves on the season and have missed out on 0 of 6 chances to get a save. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 21 base runners so far this year with 23.8% of those players crossing home plate. The Braves have sent 60 relievers to the hill on the campaign.

The Braves have transformed 72.6% of balls hit into play into outs out of 1,521 innings, which ranks them 3rd in pro baseball. The Athletics have amassed 507 putouts over the course of the season, as well as 165 assists and 9 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .987 which puts them in 16th in pro baseball, and they have turned 22 double plays.

Perez has taken the hill for 1,645 innings and is sitting with 1,159 punch outs during his pro baseball career. Perez (91-94 career mark) has earned a FIP of 4.34 and he has gone up against 7,123 batters in the majors. His ERA is 4.40 (805 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.430. He has conceded 1,759 hits (9.6 hits per nine innings) and has had 594 walks.

The Philadelphia Phillies have a team on-base percentage of .309 and a batting average of .229 this year. They have struck out on 157 occasions (16th in MLB) and are sitting with 139 hits. Philadelphia has hit 20 HRs on the year to go along with 71 RBIs. The Phillies have a slugging percentage of .381 and they tally 4.00 runs per game (22nd in the league). They have put up 30 two-baggers, while walking 59 times as well as scoring 72 runs.

The Phillies have a team WHIP of 1.385 in addition to having a FIP of 3.06 as a pitching staff so far this year. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 10.20 (183 strikeouts against 47 bases on balls). They are currently ranked 30th in the league as a staff in total hits relinquished with 176. They have surrendered 15 home runs and they surrender 5.42 runs per 9 innings (27th in baseball). The Philadelphia pitching staff have conceded 97 runs on the campaign and come in with a team ERA of 4.92 (88 earned runs conceded).

Philadelphia relievers have an inherited score rate of 45.0% out of their 20 inherited base runners. Their bullpen pitchers have taken the field 14 times in high leverage situations in addition to 16 occasions with runners on. Sitting with 16 save situations, the Phillies have amassed 10 holds and also 1 blown save. They are currently ranked 5th in the league with a save rate of 83.3%, and they have sent 65 relievers onto the diamond on the season.

In 1,449 innings played, the Phillies have earned a efficiency on defense of 62.2% (30th in professional baseball). The Philadelphia Phillies have gotten 12 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .979 (26th in pro baseball). The Phillies have recorded 171 assists, 14 errors and have notched a total of 483 putouts on the season.

Thus far in his career, Walker has conceded 1,232 hits while he has tallied 1,100 strikeouts in 1,292 innings pitched. Walker (78-73 career mark) has a 4.22 ERA and has allowed 8.6 hits per nine innings. He has conceded 606 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.295 and a FIP of 4.2. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.49 and he has gone up against 5,494 opposing batters so far in his pro baseball career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Atlanta (-196)

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