MLB Total of the Week - Friday
- Handicapper
- Jim Feist
- League
- MLB
- Competition
- Arizona Diamondbacks vs Atlanta Braves
- Release Date
- 08/14/2026 10:13 AM
- Event Date
- 08/14/2026 07:15 PM
- Bet Type
- Over / Under
- Pick
-
Arizona Diamondbacks vs Atlanta Braves Under 8 (-115)
(BetMGM)
- Outcome
- Win
- Analysis
- I’ll take the Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves UNDER the total Friday night as the starting pitching matchup favors the under once again. Brandon Pfaadt gets the nod for Arizona against Chris Sale. Though the Braves are officially undecided at this point.
White I like Sale to help keep this game lower scoring, I'm really liking the D'backs starter to keep this game under the most. Should Sale start then he's 12-7 and owns a sparkling 2.20 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 151 strikeouts entering Friday. He should have no problem keeping Arizona around two or three runs given the Diamondbacks’ inconsistent offense.
However, Pfaadt is who I expect to determine this game’s outcome. Pfaadt is 6-1 with a 3.36 ERA and 1.20 WHIP overall, but he’s been ridiculous since returning to Arizona’s starting rotation at the end of June. Pfaadt had a 1.55 ERA over his last seven starts before Tuesday and his home-run issue that plagued him earlier in the season seems to have subsided.
He was dominant again in his most recent outing, holding Los Angeles to zero runs over seven innings. Pfaadt has not allowed an earned run in August, pitching 13 2/3 innings total. That’s impressive considering Atlanta boasts one of the National League’s better offenses.
Speaking of Arizona’s offense, it didn’t do much damage in its previous outing against the Colorado Rockies, either. Arizona scored just two runs in its 3-2 loss on Tuesday as its offense sputtered after peppering Colorado starter Jon Gray with two solo homers early in the game. The Diamondbacks followed that up with a 6-4 loss Wednesday, so Arizona is coming in having lost two straight.
Atlanta is without question capable of posting a big inning at any time, but Pfaadt has the stuff to limit the Braves’ chances. Atlanta averages approximately 4.9 runs per game compared to Arizona’s 4.5, but the Braves also allow only about 3.9 runs per game. If both starters are able to last six innings or more, we should see less of the middle relief.
Jim's Play: 957. D'backs/Braves UNDER
