San Francisco Giants vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, Preview and Odds - 08/18/2023

Game Time: 7:20 pm ET, Friday, August 18, 2023

Venue:  Truist Park, Atlanta, GA

Where to Watch:  BSSE

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Giants +180, Braves -218; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Giants +180, Braves -220; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Giants +180, Braves -225; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

San Francisco Giants:  64-57 (2nd place, NL West)

Atlanta Braves:  78-42 (1st place, NL East)

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San Francisco Giants:  3-7 last 10

Atlanta Braves:  8-2 last 10

The Giants are entering this series off a loss and lost their 3-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 64-57 record overall and have a road record of 29-29. This is the series opener of a 3-game series with the Braves on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 23rd in the MLB with a .702 OPS. Rookie pitcher Ryan Walker was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Alex Cobb is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 6-4 with a 3.62 ERA this season. His team lost their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 6 ER, 1 HR, and 2 BB with 3 Ks on 9 hits through 4.1 IP against the Texas Rangers.

The Braves are entering this series on a 3 game winning streak and completed the sweep 3-0 in their 3-game series against the New York Yankees in their last series. They enter this game with a 78-42 record overall and have a home record of 40-20. This is the 1st game of a 3-game series with the Giants on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 1st in the MLB with a .846 OPS. Charlie Morton was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Spencer Strider is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 13-4 with a 3.75 ERA this season. His team won 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 0 earned runs, 0 homers, and 4 BB with 6 strikeouts on 3 hits through 7 innings played against the New York Mets.

The current betting odds have the Braves listed as a big favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. They have the best record in the entire MLB and they also have the best offense in the MLB that continues to get better in each game and has actually been improving even more with the runs they have been scoring over the last few weeks. The Giants have been playing well lately as they try to find their way into the Wild Card spot but their offense has struggled a lot this season and they have been sliding down the league lately. Their pitching has been good but they also have Cobb on the mound here who just gave up 6 runs in his last start and he is not going to have a good outing on the road here against the best offense in the MLB that continues to put up a ton of runs in every game. The Braves also have Strider on the mound here who leads the starters in wins this season since he has been lights out on the mound in a majority of his starts. He will continue to pitch well at home here as he shuts this weak Giants lineup down and the Giants pitching staff won't be able to keep the Braves bats at bay here. The best way to place a bet here is on the Braves to win this game and on the runline. 

Giants Braves Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, August 18, 2023 (7:20 pm ET start time) is Braves 9 Giants 3.

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San Francisco Giants: 25-31 (-11.4 units) on the moneyline after a 2 game span where the bullpen threw 9 total innings or more. 45-44 (-6.1 units) on the moneyline against right-handed starters. 8-5 OVER with a tired bullpen - after 3 straight games throwing 4+ innings. ALEX COBB is 4-1 OVER after getting hit for 5+ runs in his last 2 outings.

Atlanta Braves: 78-42 (+11.6 units) on the moneyline in all games. 53-24 (+15.6 units) on the moneyline after a win. 11-3 OVER after shutting out their opponent. 25-15 OVER after allowing 2 runs or less.

San Francisco Giants:  A. DeSclafani (SP) out for season - Elbow. M. Haniger (RF) Early Sept - Forearm. M. Yastrzemski (RF) Late Aug - Hamstring. J. Brebbia (RP) Late Aug - Back. A. Pollock (DH) Early Sept - Oblique. C. Waites (RP) out for season - Elbow. T. Szapucki (SP) out for season - Arm. R. Perez (C) out for season - Shoulder.

Atlanta Braves:  O. Albies (2B) Out indefinitely - Hamstring. E. Adrianza (2B) Late Aug - Shoulder. J. Chavez (RP) Late Aug - Shin. D. Lee (SP) Late Aug - Shoulder. D. Hernandez (SP) Out indefinitely - Forearm. N. Anderson (SP) Early Sept - Shoulder. K. Wright (SP) Early Sept - Shoulder. S. Hilliard (LF) Out indefinitely - Heel. K. Allard (SP) Out indefinitely - Shoulder. T. Matzek (RP) out for season - Elbow. H. Ynoa (SP) out for season - Elbow.

“One day we'll have monitors in the dugout and be able to watch this stuff because you actually see the game even better than you do from the dugout. That was a really fun moment. It was great to see Joc break out in that big smile, both in the moment and then the camera panned to him in the dugout after the call was confirmed on the field and just a huge smile comes out.” - Gabe Kapler after his team’s win against the Rays in their game on Tuesday.

“I think I just physically felt better tonight.” - Charlie Morton after their win against the Yankees in their game on Wednesday. 

Wade Meckler (L) CF

Joc Pederson (L) DH

Wilmer Flores (R) 1B

Michael Conforto (L) RF

J.D. Davis (R) 3B

Blake Sabol (L) C

Thairo Estrada (R) 2B

Johan Camargo (S) SS

Heliot Ramos (R) LF

Ronald Acuna Jr. (R) RF

Michael Harris II (L) CF

Austin Riley (R) 3B

Matt Olson (L) 1B

Marcell Ozuna (R) DH

Eddie Rosario (L) LF

Travis d'Arnaud (R) C

Orlando Arcia (R) SS

Nicky Lopez (L) 2B

Batting Average:  Johan Camargo (.429)

Hits:  J.D. Davis (92)

Home Runs:  Wilmer Flores (16)

RBI:  J.D. Davis (56)

Stolen Bases:  Thairo Estrada (18)

Wins:  Logan Webb (9)

Saves:  Camilo Doval (33)

ERA:  Mauricio Llovera (1.69)

Batting Average:  Charlie Culberson (1.000)

Hits:  Ronald Acuna (161)

Home Runs:  Matt Olson (43)

RBI:  Matt Olson (107)

Stolen Bases:  Ronald Acuna (55)

Wins:  Spencer Strider (13)

Saves:  Raisel Iglesias (23)

ERA:  Dereck Rodriguez (0.00)

Managers:

San Francisco Giants: Gabe Kapler (4th season)

Atlanta Braves: Brian Snitker (8th season)