Giants vs Braves Series Preview: Atlanta’s Offense Excelling at Historic Pace

Riding a lineup fueled by All-Stars, the Atlanta Braves have established themselves as the World Series favorite. Nobody in Major League Baseball has won more or hit better than the Braves, whose lineup is on pace to set records across the board.

The Braves will look to continue their dominance this weekend when the San Francisco Giants visit Truist Park for a three-game set. Atlanta is now a -226 moneyline favorite in Friday’s opener after opening at -200, with San Francisco dropping from +180 to +196. The projected run total is 8.5, with the Over juiced to -120. Read on as we break down both teams in our Giants vs Braves series preview.

Braves Keep Slugging Their Way to First

The Atlanta Braves continue to bludgeon opponents along the way to the top of the Major League Baseball standings. The Braves own baseball’s best record at 78-42 while ranking first in runs, home runs and OPS. Additionally, the Braves’ .275 team batting average is the highest by any team in the last six years.

Over their last seven games, the Braves outscored the New York Mets and New York Yankees by a total of 58-16, according to baseball scores. There seems to be no stopping this Braves juggernaut, which features six players with 20 home runs or more. First baseman Matt Olson leads baseball with 43 homers, while third baseman Austin Riley is next in line with 29.

Atlanta is on pace for 314 homers, which would break the MLB record of 307 set by the 2019 Minnesota Twins. It’s slugged a ridiculous .532 since the All-Star break, up from .492 beforehand.

It’s no surprise that Atlanta is now the World Series favorite at +320, ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers (+425) and Houston Astros (+700).

Giants Slumping of Late

The San Francisco Giants have struggled lately, going 3-7 over their last 10 games to fall to 64-57. While they’ve dropped to 10.0 games behind the rival Dodgers atop the NL West, the Giants remain on solid footing in the playoff picture. They’re 1.5 games ahead of three teams for the second wild card spot.

Can they hold on? Many seem to think so, with FanGraphs giving them a 65.2% chance to make the postseason. Despite the recent skid, the Giants seem to have staying power. They have the fourth-best run differential (plus-12) among wild card teams and a pitching staff that continues to get better with experience.

The Giants rank eighth with a 3.90 ERA, a product of a rotation headlined by Logan Webb and Alex Cobb. The bullpen has been solid, too, as Camilo Doval is tied with Cincinnati’s Alexis Diaz for the MLB lead with 33 saves. Doval struggled in July (4.91 ERA) but has allowed only one run (zero earned) in his first four outings of August.

Odds Outlook

Atlanta has been among the most profitable teams for bettors. It’s compiled a 63-57 record against the run line, including 31-29 at home. The Braves have also hit the Over at a 55.6% percent clip (65-52-3), the second-highest rate in MLB behind the Dodgers at 59.8%.

Conversely, San Francisco is 58-63 ATS, including just 27-29 on the road. It’s hit the over just 42.4% of the time, the third-lowest rate in MLB. Keep that in mind when assessing the odds in our Giants vs Braves series preview.

Game 1

• Spencer Strider vs Alex Cobb (Friday, 7:20 p.m. ET)

The flamethrowing Strider has established himself as one of the frontrunners for NL Cy Young, going 13-4 with a 3.75 ERA. He’s tied with two others for the MLB lead in wins and is also first in strikeouts, with 217. Strider has struck out 10 or more batters in nine of his 24 starts this season. As such, the right-hander is currently +600 to win his first Cy Young. He faces Cobb, who is 6-4 with a 3.62 ERA. Cobb, a first-time All-Star, has struggled to an 8.04 ERA in August.

Game 2

• Yonny Chirinos vs Logan Webb (Saturday, 7:20 p.m. ET)

Chirinos has been hit hard since being claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays last month. He’s registered a 9.33 ERA in four starts as a Brave. Before that, Chirinos was 4-4 with a 4.02 ERA with Tampa Bay. The Giants will counter with Webb, who is 9-9 with a 3.26 ERA and is tied for the MLB lead in quality starts with 18. Webb is also tied for ninth in WHIP (1.07) and has seen his Cy Young odds climb to +300, matching San Diego’s Blake Snell. Currently, only Arizona’s Zac Gallen has better odds (+175).

Game 3

• Max Fried vs TBD (Sunday, 1:35 p.m. ET)

After missing three months with a left forearm strain, Max Fried has returned to form in August. He’s 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts this month while compiling an impressive 14-2 K/BB ratio. The southpaw is 4-1 on the season with a 2.57 ERA. The excitement for the upcoming Giants vs Braves game is palpable. The Giants have yet to name a starter opposite him, which could swing the odds in our Giants vs Braves series preview.

For MLB betting news, odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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