Braves vs Tigers Series Preview: Atlanta Best Road Team in MLB
Rookie Pitchers Expected to Start in Series
The Atlanta Braves open a three-game series in Detroit on Monday night. The Braves vs Tigers series preview notes Atlanta enters the series with a 20-10 road record. That’s the best in Major League Baseball. It’s a half-game better than Arizona’s 20-11 mark or Baltimore’s 21-12 away record.
The Tigers have yet to declare a starting pitcher for Monday’s game. There’s no such problem for the Braves, who will go with veteran right-hander Charlie Morton.
Atlanta is just 6-6 in Morton’s starts this year, despite allowing just 3.5 runs per game. The Braves have dropped 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 games when Morton starts. Atlanta has also scored eight or more runs in four of his 12 starts. Therefore, the stats show plenty of run support. But the Atlanta bats have let him down on several occasions.
The Braves are No. 4 in team batting average and No. 5 in runs scored. Scoring isn’t usually a problem for Atlanta and it should have success against Detroit’s staff. The Tigers are No. 21 in team ERA.
The Tigers scratched Joey Wentz from Sunday’s start and may give him the ball here. Tyler Holton is another possibility. But it doesn’t make much difference who starts unless the Tigers start to hit better. Detroit ranks No. 30 in team batting average.
The Tigers are last in runs scored and only two teams have hit fewer home runs. The pitching staff isn’t good enough to pick up the slack, so it’s no surprise the Tigers have lost nine in a row.
With Ronald Acuna among the MLB stats leaders in hitting – leading the charge, Atlanta should get some runs here. It doesn’t matter who the Tigers send to the mound. The Braves will be big favorites. But that’s the only way to go in this one.
Tuesday’s Game
The Braves vs Tigers series preview has MLB strikeout leader Spencer Strider expected to start for the Braves. The Tigers have rookie Reese Olson tentatively scheduled to start. If the pitching matchup goes as expected, expect the Braves to be huge favorites here.
Strider has pitched well and Atlanta is 11-2 in his 13 starts this season. The Braves are giving him plenty of run support, scoring 6.77 runs per game when he starts. Atlanta has gone 5-1 on the road with Strider on the mound.
Olson will be making just his second start and third MLB appearance. He’s allowed just five hits and three runs in 10 innings. But the Braves will be the best-hitting team he’s seen in his early MLB career.
Wednesday’s Game
The Braves vs Tigers series preview notes Wednesday’s game is the first on the day’s MLB schedule, with an afternoon start. This time it’s Atlanta’s turn to go with a young pitcher. The Braves have AJ Smith-Shawver listed as their scheduled starter. Smith-Shawver has only appeared in two MLB games in his career. He’s thrown a total of 7.2 innings and not allowed a run.
Detroit is expected to counter with veteran Michael Lorenzen, who has pitched well this season. He’s sporting a 3.75 ERA in 10 starts and the Tigers are 5-5 with him on the mound. At home, Detroit has gone 4-1 when he starts.
Betting the Series
This is one of those series, where you have to look at Atlanta each game provided the odds are reasonable. Morton and Strider are both better than anybody the Tigers will send to the mound.
Wednesday’s game is the tough one. Lorenzen has more of a track record than Smith-Shawver, but Atlanta is still the superior team. This game should have Atlanta at the lowest odds and is worth playing if the teams split the first two games.
Atlanta should manage to take at least two of the three games, which would keep up with its current road winning percentage. The Tigers are better at home than on the road, although that really isn’t saying a whole lot.
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