Braves vs Phillies Prediction & Best Bet (June 21): Expect a Pitching Duel in Philly

After a rain delay postponed last night’s game to September, the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies collide in what would’ve been the third meeting of a three-game series on Thursday. Nevertheless, with Philadelphia currently sitting nine games back of Atlanta for first in the NL East, it’s clear that today’s Braves vs Phillies clash is a must-win game for the home team.

Tonight’s game between the Phillies and the Atlanta Braves has been postponed. It will be made up on Monday, September 11, as part of a split day/night doubleheader. Tickets for the June 21 game will be valid for the newly scheduled 1:05 p.m. game.

More: https://t.co/eaC6Z32J64 pic.twitter.com/7fOTzriBuc

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 22, 2023

The Braves and Phillies last met on Tuesday, resulting in a 4-2 victory for Brian Snitker’s club. Austin Riley and Matt Olson each hit home runs for Atlanta while starting pitcher Spencer Strider only gave up one run on eight hits while striking out nine batters over six innings.

Do the Braves have what it takes to win their eighth straight game? Or will the Phillies stand tall in front of the Citizens Bank Park faithful?

Here’s a look at everything you know heading into today’s Braves vs Phillies showdown, from the latest betting odds to a prediction with the best betting recommendation, courtesy of Betting News.

Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies Game Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Atlanta Braves (47-26, 23-11 Away) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (38-35, 19-12 Home)
• Venue & Location: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
• Date: Thursday, June 22, 2023
• Game Time: 1:05 p.m. Eastern Time
• Braves vs Phillies TV Info: Bally Sports Florida, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Braves vs Phillies Odds

Game odds as of Thursday, June 22 at 8:33 a.m. ET from Bovada. Odds from other sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Spread

• Atlanta Braves -1.5 (+140)
• Philadelphia Phillies +1.5 (-165)

Over/Under

• Over 8.5 Runs (-110)
• Under 8.5 Runs (-110)

Moneyline

• Atlanta Braves -115
• Philadelphia Phillies -105

Braves vs Phillies Starting Pitchers

• Braves: Bryce Elder (14 starts — 5-1, 2.60 ERA)
• Phillies: Aaron Nola (15 starts —6-5, 4.66 ERA)

Braves vs Phillies Betting Trends

• Atlanta is 5-1 straight up in its last six road games.
• Philadelphia is 2-6 straight up in its last eight games against the NL East.
• The total has hit the over in six of Atlanta’s last eight games.
• The total has hit the under in five of Philadelphia’s last six home games.
• The total has hit the over in eight of the last 12 Atlanta-Philadelphia matchups.

Braves vs Phillies Game Preview

The Braves are one of the hottest teams in the Majors at the moment, having won their last seven games in a row. The Phillies were on a six-game winning streak before Tuesday’s loss, leaving time to tell if they can get back on track.

Unfortunately, there are a few things working against the Phillies this afternoon. For starters, they haven’t been that great against the NL East this year, having gone 5-9 overall and 2-6 in their past eight divisional matchups.

For reference, the Braves are on a five-game winning streak against fellow NL East clubs, bringing their overall divisional record to 18-6.

Secondly, the Phillies have to deal with Bryce Elder being the Braves’ starting pitcher. The second-year hurler has been terrific on the mound, going 5-1 with a 2.60 ERA and 1.145 WHIP in 14 starts. Although he’s had the occasional rough performance, Elder looked good in his last showing, allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts over six innings in a 10-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on June 17.

Bryce Elder, K'ing the Side. pic.twitter.com/DTfC5aWNHx

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 7, 2023

Meanwhile, the Phillies’ Aaron Nola has been somewhat stuck in a rut. In Nola’s last five starts, he’s 2-2 with a 5.34 ERA, having given up four-plus runs in four of those games. He also struggled in his last appearance in Philadelphia, allowing six runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings in a 9-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Having said that, Nola has still found more success at Citizens Bank Park than he has on the road. The 30-year-old veteran arm is 3-2 with a 3.92 ERA in six home starts compared to being 3-3 with a 5.17 ERA in nine road appearances.

Having said that, Nola typically ups his game against the Braves, owning a 5-3 record and 3.39 ERA in his last nine games against the NL East rival. Furthermore, he’s won his last two home starts against Philadelphia, going 12 innings without allowing a run on nine hits while striking out 14 batters.

If Nola can bring that same efficiency to this afternoon’s Braves vs Phillies collision, Philadelphia has a great shot at making ground in the NL East. If he doesn't, though, it’s going to be hard slowing down Atlanta’s elite offense, which averages 5.47 runs (No. 3 in MLB), 9.19 hits (No. 2), and 1.75 homers per game (No. 1) with a .269 batting average (No. 2).

Braves vs Phillies Prediction and Picks

Braves vs Phillies Prediction: Braves 4, Phillies 3

Braves vs Phillies: Braves ML (Best Value: -115 ) & Under 8.5 Runs (Best Value: -110)

I’m taking the Braves to emerge victorious from this afternoon’s meeting. They’re on fire at the moment and are backed by Elder’s strong play on the mound. While Nola has performed well, too, his performances have been hit-or-miss lately. Throw in Philadelphia’s NL East struggles and it’s easy to see why Atlanta is the better pick to win.

For another solid Braves vs Phillies bet, I’m taking the under on the 8.5-run total. Again, Elder has been playing great while Nola has been solid against Atlanta at home. Assuming both trends continue, runs will be hard to come by.

On top of that, the under is 4-6 in the Braves’ road games against the NL East this season while also being 5-1 in Phialdelphia’s last six overall at home. Considering that the two sides only combined for six runs Tuesday night, I don’t anticipate many fireworks today.

---

Betting News Stream

Go check out our Twitch page and give us a follow for even more betting fun!

?️Stream Schedule ?️

We're All About the Game, and we know you are too?

Come vibe with us??

➡️https://t.co/JHH1Ol8i7N⬅️ pic.twitter.com/zCUxzymdfI

— Betting News (@YourBettingNews) March 31, 2023