One team’s winning streak is about to end tonight, as the Atlanta Braves (58-48) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (59-47) meet for the first time this season. Both the Braves and the Dodgers are 3-0 in their last three games, and are in solid positions to win their respective divisions. A pair of right-handers will take the mound for their respective teams, looking for their first win in the second half of this season.
Read more about the first game of the Braves and the Dodgers below. You can also check out our list of five best baseball games to bet on today here.
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Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
When: Tuesday, July 29, 10:10 PM ET
Line: Atlanta Braves (+130) at Los Angeles Dodgers (-140); total: 7.0 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Atlanta Braves
Fresh off winning three-straight games against the San Diego Padres, the Braves take the road for the first time in the second half of the season tonight. They’ll find themselves at Dodger Stadium, where they played their last game of the 2013 season – a 4-3 loss to the Dodgers in the fourth and final game of their National League Division Series. The Braves are 3-1 in their last four road games.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Taking the mound for Atlanta tonight is Aaron Harang (9-6, 3.31 ERA), who has been solid thus far this month. In his last four outings, Harang has pitched a combined 28 innings, allowing just six earned runs for an ERA of 1.93, while recording a 1.25 WHIP. However, the Braves lost in his last two starts – wherein he earned two no-decisions – particularly because the Braves’ hitters weren’t able to provide the right-hander a sufficient amount of run support, scoring only three runs in total.
Harang, though, could be in for a bigger run cushion tonight, as the Braves have hit well during their current win-streak. In their four-game set against San Diego, which owns the fifth-lowest ERA (3.20) in the majors, the Braves pumped in 17 runs.
The Braves are 3-0 in Harang’s last three road starts.
Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers
After catapulting themselves to the first place of the NL West with a three-game sweep of erstwhile leaders, San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers now return to Dodger Stadium, where they are 3-1 in their last four games there.
While Atlanta’s Harang has pitched great over his last few starts, he should be in for a tough test tonight against the Dodgers’ batters.
Four Dodgers have hit at least .350 over the last seven days. Hanley Ramirez leads the pack after going 6-for-13 (.462) in their series against the Giants. Behind the shortstop is Matt Kemp (.444) and Yasiel Puig (.357), who went 5-for-14, including his historic three triples in the first game of the series against San Francisco. Lastly, Adrian Gonzalez was 7- for-20 (.350).
Among all the current Dodgers, Gonzalez has hit best against Harang. The first baseman has a triple-slash line of .412/ .474/1.000 from 7-for-17 hitting in his career versus Harang.
On the mound, Josh Beckett (6-5, 2.52 ERA) looks to redeem himself after conceding four earned runs in just 3.2 innings in his last start, where the Dodgers lost 12-7 to the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 22nd.
Beckett is 6-0 with a 0.38 ERA in his last seven starts against Atlanta. However, his last start opposite the Braves was back in 2009.
Writer’s Prediction
The Dodgers’ offense will rise to the occasion once again, beating Atlanta, 5-4. Take Los Angeles as -140 home favorite, and the total to go under. Create a betting account now, and get in on this big time MLB tilt.
