The Atlanta Braves get their turn to play host to the Washington Nationals, whom they beat twice in their three-game series last week. Will the Nationals return the favor?
Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves
Where: Turner Field, Atlanta
When: Tuesday, April 11, 7:35 PM ET
Line: Washington Nationals (+115) at Atlanta Braves (-125); total 7.0 – view all MLB lines
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Betting on the Washington Nationals
[sc:MLB240banner ]Stephen Strasburg fanned 12 batters in 6.2 innings, while Ian Desmond drove in four runs as the Washington Nationals completed a sweep of the Miami Marlins with a 7-1 victory on Thursday. The Nationals have now won four in a row and went over the total runs line in their last two games.
The Nationals now have to face their NL East rival Atlanta Braves. In the two team’s first series of the season, Washington lost the first and second game but carved out a 2-1 victory in the third.
Desmond and second baseman Anthony Rendon were two of Washington’s most successful hitters during that series. Desmond went 4-11 for eight total bases, while Rendon was 4-12, scoring two runs.
The Nationals appear to have rediscovered their power in the series against Miami. After managing only five runs in three games combined against the Braves, Washington hulked out 24 runs in its four-game series against the Marlins.
Washington will have Tanner Roark (1-0, 3.00 ERA) on the mound versus the Braves tonight. The right-hander picked up his first win of the season in the Nationals’ 8-2 victory over the New York Mets on April 3. The current roster of the Braves hit 3-34 (.088) against Roark last season.
Betting on the Atlanta Braves
After a strong 4-1 start this season, the Atlanta Braves have now lost three of their last four games after losing to the New York Mets Thursday night, 6-4. The loss put to waste Justin Upton’s great hitting performance. He went 3-4, smacking two homers and driving in three runs.
The Braves continue their homestand tonight when they host the Washington Nationals, whom they beat in their first season series last week, two games to one.
Julius Teheran, who picked up a win against the Nationals in the second game of that series, will be on the mound again for Atlanta. The right-handed pitcher had a solid outing in that game, giving up three hits and two earned runs, while striking out six batters in Atlanta’s 6-2 victory. He also went 2-4 from behind the plate.
Since becoming a regular starter for Atlanta in 2013, Teheran has been terrific when up against the Nationals. The Braves are 3-0 in his last three starts against Washington and 5-1 in his last six overall.
Writer’s Prediction
With the Nationals finding their rhythm behind the plate thanks to the series against Miami, Atlanta won’t be the only one supplying the runs unlike in each teams’ series last week. This game will have at least eight runs. Who are you going to bet on?
