Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/15/2022

Time: 7:05 p.m. ET

Venue: Nationals Park, Washington, DC

Where to watch: Bally Sports South, MASN

DraftKings: Braves -175, Nationals +145

BetMGM: Braves -179, Nationals +160

Caesars: Braves -145, Nationals +125

Braves: 36-27

Nationals: 23-41

Is it safe to assume that the Atlanta Braves will never lose a game ever again? Of course we can sit here and say that they will because if they were to never lose another game again they would go back to back as world champions and would finish something along the lines of 135 wins and be the greatest baseball team of all time.

So of course they're going to lose but when you have a team that tends to find a way to get a winning streak going that reaches the teens, you are kind of left wondering if they will ever lose again. I'm sure there was a period of time when the Oakland Athletics during the moneyball era were defeating every single team insight and no one ever thought they would lose.

But it does help in this regard that you are facing the Washington Nationals right now and you are stockpiling wins every possible chance you get. Atlanta did so on Tuesday with a 10- 4 victory over the nationals to take two of the first three in this series.

The crazy thing about the Braves and how they've been able to dominate as well as they have recently is the fact that they have done it in a multitude of ways. There are instances where they're pitching very well and can win games by only scoring a few runs here and there. Then you get to instances like Tuesday, with Atlanta hitting five home runs and getting contributions across the board that you're almost surprised that this offense is as good as it is right now.

Michael Harris and Travis d'Arnaud both totaled three hits and each hit a home run for the second straight game. Think about that for a second. They dominated the night before with pretty much the same exact stat line, and they did it again with no problem the following night.

"It's a good feeling," Harris said of the streak. "You feel like you're on top of the world, honestly. Keep winning every night. Just doing what we need to on the field."

I initially thought that the Braves were going to lose this particular game of the series because initially, Stephen Strasburg was supposed to be pitching for the nationals in this game. Unfortunately, Strasburg is dealing with an injury right now that put him back on the IL and he was scratched from the start.

Add the former World Series MVP played in this game, pitching in front of the home crowd in an instance where it would have gotten the nationals fans something to be excited about, then I would venture to guess that it would have resulted in a victory for the last place team.

"It's kind of our identity," Snitker said. "We're not a team that bunches hits. We hit homers. We are what we are."

Instead, the Braves scored seven runs in the first three innings including five in the third. Washington just did not stand a chance end hasn't been able to stand a chance for a better part of this series. And I have no doubt in my mind, a game after they had 13 hits that totaled those ten runs, that Atlanta will be able to put this series away rather easily when all said done.

I'm still not sure the Braves will actually catch the New York Mets, but if they do, it will make this division race extremely fun. As far as this game goes, do not overthink it. Atlanta is just playing out of its mind right now and if they continue to feast on these bottom tiered teams, things will be working out well in the long run. Braves win 7-2

Braves are 44-14 the past three seasons as a road favorite of -125 or more.

Braves are 16-8 as a favorite of -125 to -175 this season.

Nationals are 5-14 as a home underdog this season.

Braves:
Ronald Acuna Jr. (R) RF
Dansby Swanson (R) SS
Austin Riley (R) 3B
Matt Olson (L) 1B
Ozzie Albies (S) 2B
Marcell Ozuna (R) DH
William Contreras (R) C
Adam Duvall (R) LF
Michael Harris II (L) CF
SP - Spencer Strider

Nationals:
Lane Thomas (D) CF
Cesar Hernandez (A) 2B
Juan Soto (Z) RF
Nelson Cruz (D) DH
Josh Bell (A) 1B
Yadiel Hernandez (Z) LF
Keibert Ruiz (A) C
Luis Garcia (Z) SS
Ehire Adrianza (A) 3B
SP - Erick Fedde

Batting average: Dansby Swanson -- .291

Home runs: Austin Riley -- 16

RBI: Dansby Swanson -- 37

Wins: Kyle Wright -- 7

ERA: Kyle Wright -- 2.57

Batting average: Josh Bell -- .294

Home runs: Juan Soto -- 13

RBI: Josh Bell -- 38

Wins: Josiah Gray -- 6

ERA: Josiah Gray -- 4.33