Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, 7/31/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves

Date: Friday, July 31, 2026

Location: Truist Park in Cumberland, GA

TV: Braves.TV

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

The Washington Nationals (55-54) are headed to Truist Park on Friday where they will take on the Atlanta Braves (63-45). The odds on this game have Washington at +102 while Atlanta is coming in at -122. The over/under is 9. The pitchers taking the mound are Foster Griffin and Bryce Elder.

As a squad, the Washington Nationals are recording 5.5 runs per game, which puts them at 1st in baseball. They have accumulated 596 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .329. The Nationals have compiled 193 doubles as a team and have smacked 159 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accounted for 567 RBI's in addition to 951 hits this year, while their team batting average is .254. Washington has a slugging rate of .445 and have struck out 900 times, while taking a walk on 384 occasions.

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They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.18 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.40. Nationals pitchers have conceded 149 home runs in addition to 568 runs in total (28th in the league). Washington has allowed 982 hits (9.1 per 9 innings) and also 516 earned runs. The Nationals have compiled a team ERA of 4.75 on the season (27th in the league), and their staff has rung up 841 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 385 opposing players and their FIP comes in at 4.73 as a unit on the year.

Nationals bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on 110 times in addition to having 120 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have notched 58 holds this season (17th in the league). The Nationals relief pitchers have earned a save rate of 54.2% and have stepped onto the mound in 122 save situations. They have compiled 32 saves on the year and have blown 27 of 59 save opportunities. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 170 base runners on the year and 41.2% of those runners ended up scoring. The Nationals have sent 350 relievers to the mound over the course of the season.

The Washington Nationals have accumulated 2,930 putouts over the course of the season, as well as 1,005 assists and 83 errors. Their fielding rate is holding steady at .979 which has them sitting 30th in baseball, and have accumulated 88 double plays. The Nationals have converted 68.9% of balls in play into outs in their 8,790 innings, which ranks them 25th in pro baseball.

Griffin (13-2 career mark) sits with a FIP of 2.96 and he has gone up against 537 batters in the major leagues. He has surrendered 107 hits (7.3 hits per 9 innings) and has 33 free passes. His ERA is 3.00 (44 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.061. Griffin has thrown 132 innings and has 118 strikeouts in his pro baseball career.

Atlanta has hit 141 home runs for the year to go along with 508 runs batted in. They have 170 doubles, while getting a free base 325 times as well as recording 526 runs. The Atlanta Braves are sitting with an on-base percentage of .315 and a team batting average of .248 so far this season. The Braves hold a slugging % of .414 and they are scoring 4.87 runs per game (6th in MLB). They have struck out on 877 occasions (23rd in baseball) and have earned 913 base hits.

The Braves are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.248 and have a FIP of 4.13 as a team for the year. They are currently ranked 5th in MLB as a staff in total hits surrendered with 829. The Atlanta pitching staff have relinquished 430 runs on the year while holding an ERA of 3.71 (395 earned runs allowed). Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 8.70 (930 strikeouts vs 368 bases on balls). They have given up 125 long balls and they relinquish 4.04 runs per 9 innings (6th in MLB).

Atlanta relievers have an inherited score rate of 24.8% of 113 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 119 times in high leverage situations and also on 79 occasions with runners on. With 126 save situations, the Braves have tallied 77 holds and also 14 blown saves. They sit at 10th in baseball holding a save rate of 69.6%, and they have sent 347 relief pitchers onto the field over the course of the season.

The Atlanta Braves have turned 87 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .987 (12th in the majors). The Braves have recorded 879 assists, 50 errors and have a tally of 2,878 putouts this season. In 8,634 innings played, the Braves hold a defensive efficiency of 71.3% (4th in pro baseball).

So far in his pro baseball career, Elder has conceded 540 hits while he has accumulated 450 K's in 547 innings. Elder (30-30 career win-loss record) has a 4.46 earned run average while allowing 8.9 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed a total of 271 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.335 and having a FIP of 4.4. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.36 and he has gone up against 2,343 batters in his MLB career.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Atlanta (-122)

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