Sale Looks to Do Job for Braves in Series Finale
The Braves vs Phillies Odds Has Visiting Atlanta Favored in Series Opener
Enticing Pitching Matchups Highlight First Braves-Phillies Series of 2024
Two of the top contenders in the National League East won’t waste much time getting to know and love each other again with the Braves and Phillies opening the 2024 season with a three-game series. The Braves vs Phillies odds have Atlanta listed as a road favorite.
Atlanta won eight of the 13 meetings against the Phillies last season with six of the last 10 games finishing over the total. When looking back at the MLB scoreboard, the Braves were 5-1 in Philadelphia during the 2023 season.
The visiting Braves are priced at -125 to win the series opener with +135 MLB betting odds to cover against the run line as 1.5-run favorites.
Both teams struggled during spring training with the Braves going 12-15 and the Phillies finishing with a 9-15 record.
The Braves are the heavy favorites at -245 in the odds of winning the National League East title with Philadelphia second at +300 in the NL East title odds. Atlanta (+250) is second only to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League pennant odds with the Phillies coming in third at +700.
Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies 
Day/Time:
Location:Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Streaming:Thursday – Bally Sports South, NBC 10; Saturday – NBC Sports Philadelphia+, Bally Sports South
Probable Starting Pitchers
- Thursday: Spencer Strider (Braves); Zack Wheeler (Phillies)
- Saturday: Max Fried (Braves); Aaron Nola (Phillies)
- Sunday: Chris Sale (Braves); Ranger Suarez (Phillies)
All Eyes On Sale As Season Opens
When he is healthy, Chris Sale is one of the top left-handed starters in baseball.
The former Cy Young Award winner joins an Atlanta starting rotation headlined by Spencer Strider and Max Fried with Charlie Morton (37-24 in his first three seasons with the Braves) another key starting pitcher as the Braves have the potential to have the best rotation in baseball.
Strider, Fried, and Sale are scheduled to pitch in this season and that is something to consider when looking at the Braves vs Phillies odds.
The Braves not only traded for Sale, but paid a heavy price to update the bullpen with the acquisition of Aaron Bummer. Outfielder Adam Duvall is back for his third stint with the Braves after hitting 21 home runs in 92 games with the Boston Red Sox last season.
The total has gone over in 14 of Atlanta’s last 20 games.
Merrifield Ready to Deliver
Recent Philadelphia Phillies lineups haven’t exactly relied on speedy table setters at the top of the batting order. Perhaps that will change with the acquisition of infielder Whit Merrifield.
Merrifield had 26 stolen bases a season ago in his first full season with the Toronto Blue Jays after spending most of his MLB career in Kansas City. He scored at least 80 runs on four occasions with the Royals and has had five seasons with at least 20 stolen bases.
With a lineup full of power hitters, Merrifield will offer a different dimension and that could factor into the Braves vs Phillies odds.
The Phillies added Trea Turner a season ago and Bryston Stott is heading into his third MLB season so Philadelphia has more running threats on this year’s team.
The total has gone under in four of Philadelphia’s last five games.
Who’s Hot
- Orlando Arcia, Atlanta Braves IF: Arcia led the Braves with five home runs during spring training.
- Whit Merrifield, Phillies IF: Merrifield hit .405 with nine extra-base hits during spring training.
- Ranger Suarez, Phillies P: Suarez allowed five hits and no runs in 15 innings in his spring training appearances.
- Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves P: Strider was 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 18.2 innings in five spring training starts.
Who’s Not
- Connor Brogdon, Phillies P: Brogdon allowed seven hits and walked five batters in 7.2 innings of work in spring training.
- Jarred Kelenic, Atlanta Braves OF: Kelenic was 8 of 56 with 13 strikeouts and two extra-base hits in spring training.
- Kyle Schwarber, Phillies DH: Shawyer was 5-for-38 with one extra-base hit and 20 strikeouts in spring training.
- AJ Smith-Shawver P: Smith-Shawyer allowed 20 hits and 12 earned runs in 10.2 innings in spring training action.
Braves vs Phillies Injury Update
Pitcher Michael Rucker is questionable while fellow pitcher Taijuan Walker is out with a shoulder injury for the Phillies.
Atlanta is in a much better position from an injury standpoint.
Braves vs Phillies Betting Preview
The Phillies have won four of their last five games against the Braves. Atlanta has also lost four of the last five games as have the Phillies.
The total has gone over in seven of Atlanta’s last nine games on the road with nine of Atlanta’s last 13 games in Philadelphia going over the total. The total is set for 7.5 runs for Thursday’s series opener.
Atlanta is 2-5 in the last seven games against National League teams and has the same record in the last seven matchups with fellow NL East teams.
The Phillies have won six of the last seven games against NL East squads.
Four of Philadelphia’s last six games against National League teams went under the total.
With the way Atlanta’s Game 1 starter Spencer Strider was throwing in spring training, it is hard to pick against the visiting Braves in the series opener.
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