Braves plus $1.61 at Dodgers
The surprising Braves have a better offense than the Dodgers, are 10 games above .500 compared to LA’s .500 record and drawing a rookie pitcher.
Yet the Dodgers are a monster favorite here. I’m not buying this especially considering the situational aspects of this game.
LA concluded a six-game road trip with an 8-7 victory against the Pirates yesterday. The Dodgers’ bullpen is heavily taxed having pitched 14 1/3 innings the past two days. LA is in a fat and happy mood having won five of six during its road trip.
While the Dodgers face the distraction of returning home without rest after being gone a week while playing in two different time zones, the Braves were idle on Thursday. They’ve been in Southern California since Monday.
Atlanta is 20-14 on the road. The Dodgers are 14-17 at home.
Braves starter Brandon McCarthy won’t lack motivation pitching against his former team having played for the Dodgers from 2015-17. The 34-year-old McCarthy certainly brings an experience level Dodgers rookie Walker Buehler lacks. McCarthy has held foes to three earned runs or fewer in nine of his 12 starts.
Buehler is a highly-rated prospect. So far he’s living up to his hype with a 2.74 ERA in his first 46 innings. Buehler, though, figures to have ups and downs as the league gets more film and first-hand information about him.
Atlanta leads the National League in runs and OPS. The Braves have the fourth-highest batting average, too, in the majors. The Dodgers’ offense hasn’t been able to match that. LA ranks 18th in batting average.
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