Playoff Hopefuls Clash as D’Backs Visit Braves
D'Backs vs Braves Lines Favor Latter in a Bout Between Contenders
The Arizona Diamondbacks hit the road for the first time in the 2024 campaign as they visit the Atlanta Braves for a three-game weekend series. Arizona surprised many with its trip to the World Series a season ago as a Wild Card squad. It is hoping for more of that success in 2024, having gotten off to a 4-3 start to the regular season.
Atlanta is playing at home for the first time this season. It started with a pair of road series that left it with a 3-2 mark heading into Friday’s opener. The Braves won the NL East last season but stumbled in the postseason. They’re hoping for a better result in 2024. Atlanta and Arizona are among the betting favorites to win the National League pennant this season.
The D’Backs vs Braves lines favor the home team to win the opener. They should be the favorite in most of the games being played at Truist Park.
The first two games are scheduled for 7:20 p.m. ET first pitches while the series finale on Sunday is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET.
D’Backs vs Braves 
Records: Diamondbacks (4-3), Braves (3-2)
Day/Time: Stream: Bally Sports South
Pitching Matchups
Game 1: Tommy Henry (Arizona) vs Spencer Strider (Atlanta)
The Diamondbacks will start the series with left-hander Tommy Henry, who is making just his 28th MLB appearance. Henry started with an ugly outing against the Rockies last Saturday. He lasted four innings allowing five runs on six hits. His struggles so far make the Braves one of the best MLB bets today.
Spencer Strider didn’t get a win in his first start of the season against Philadelphia in the Braves’ season opener last Friday. But he had a solid outing, allowing just two runs and three hits over five innings in a 9-3 Atlanta victory. The right-hander is coming off an outstanding 20-5 campaign in 2023, as he had a 3.86 ERA and struck out 281 batters.
Game 2: Brandon Pfaadt (Arizona) vs Max Fried (Atlanta)
The best pitching matchup of the weekend comes on Saturday. The Diamondbacks start Brandon Pfaadt for the second time this season. The 25-year-old righty was 3-9 in his first big league campaign in 2023. But he started 2024 with an outstanding outing, going five innings and allowing just one run on five hits against Colorado.
Left-hander Max Fried will be looking to bounce back from an ugly first game, as he didn’t make it out of the first inning against the Phillies. Fried allowed three runs on two hits and walked three before departing with just two outs in the frame. The 30-year-old was 8-1 in 14 starts last season, which was marred by a three-month stay on the injured list.
Game 3: Ryne Nelson (Arizona) vs Chris Sale (Atlanta)
The right-hander Nelson comes in with an 0-1 mark, lasting just 2.2 innings against the New York Yankees on Monday night. Nelson allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits while striking out two and walking four. The 28-year-old was 8-8 with a 5.31 ERA In 29 appearances (27 starts) in 2023.
The veteran Sale is also making his second start of the season, taking a no-decision against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. This was after going 5.1 innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out seven. The left-hander made just 31 appearances (all starts) over the last three seasons as he’s battled injuries. However, he’s hoping to give the Braves a complete season in his first campaign with the club.
Both Teams Feature Hot Hitters
A look at the leaders in the MLB player stats shows a pair of hitters that will be involved in this series, with both being ones to watch when placing any prop bets on MLB lines.
Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia is third in baseball in batting average, hitting .450 in the early season. Arcia has at least one hit in four of five games this season and has four doubles, two RBI and two runs scored.
Arizona has a hot hitter in outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who is tied for second in the majors with 10 RBI. The problem is that Gurriel had all of those in the Diamondbacks’ four-game series to open the season against Colorado. In three games against the Yankees, Gurriel was 0-for-13 with a walk, so he needs to get things going again if Arizona is going to contend in this series.
Braves The Favorite In Opener, Series At Home
The D’Backs vs Braves lines for Friday’s series opener have Atlanta at -265 for a moneyline bet, while Arizona is listed at +215. The over/under for the game is set at 8.5 runs, with the over favored at -120 and the under set at +100.
In Friday’s game and throughout the series, the pick should be for Atlanta to get the win, straight-up. The Braves have been one of the better regular-season teams over the past few years, especially at home. They went 52-29 last season.
This should also be a high-scoring series, with both teams in the top four in the majors in batting average and top 10 in runs scored and many of the starters in this series struggling in the early going of this campaign. Take the over to hit in every game.
For D’Backs vs Braves Lines, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
