White Sox vs Braves Prediction and Best Bets (7/14)

The Atlanta Braves were the best team in baseball over the first half of the MLB season. Will they stay hot as they start the second half of the season tonight against the visiting Chicago White Sox (7:20 pm ET, ESPN+).

The Braves (60-29, 30-15 home) have won 27 of their last 32 games, and since losing two out of three to the Oakland A’s at the end of May, have won 11 straight series.

That’s three more series than the White Sox (38-54, 17-29 away) have won all season, and they enter the second half having won only one of their last nine series.

But the games aren’t played on paper, and we can’t automatically assume that Atlanta will roll to another win. Or can we? Read on my picks for tonight’s White Sox vs Braves matchup. First, let’s take a look at the odds for the game, courtesy of Bovada.

Chicago White Sox vs Atlanta Braves Odds

Odds are via Bovada as of Friday, July 14, 2023, at 9:10 am ET.

Moneyline

• Chicago White Sox +215
• Atlanta Braves -265

Over/Under

• Over 9.5 (+100)
• Under 9.5 (-120)

Run Line

• Chicago White Sox +1.5 (+110)
• Atlanta Braves -1.5 (-130)

Pitching Matchup for White Sox vs Braves

• Chicago White Sox: RHP Michael Kopech (16 starts, 3-7, 4.08 ERA)
• Atlanta Braves: RHP Charlie Morton (17 starts, 9-6, 3.43 ERA)

Will Morton Maintain Mastery of American League Opposition?

This season has had its share of ups and downs for Morton, but things are trending up for the veteran righty right now. Through 17 starts, he has already equaled his win total from last season (31 starts).

Morton has won each of his last four starts, and his ERA is the lowest it has been since it dropped to 2.85 after a gem against the Texas Rangers on May 15.

Some of Morton’s best work this season has come against the American League, so he should be looking forward to tonight’s matchup with the White Sox.

In five starts against the AL, Morton is 4-0 with a 1.47 ERA. He has given up just five earned runs (six total), 26 hits, and ten walks and struck out 36 in 30.2 innings.

If the White Sox are to have a chance in this one, an off night for Morton would help. But they are 20th in runs per game (4.28) and 27th in batting average (.229) on the road, and they have scored more than four runs only 16 times in 46 road games this season.

With a minimized margin for error, Kopech will need to have one of his better performances of the season.

He has allowed three or fewer runs in 11 of his 16 starts this season, including eight of his last nine, which is solid. But he has also failed to make it through five full innings in each of his last three starts and is averaging over 20 pitches per inning in his last four starts.

Why does that matter? In those four games, Chicago’s opposition scored 18 runs. Only six of those runs were credited to Kopech, so most damage was done after he exited.

Chicago White Sox vs Atlanta Braves Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction for White Sox vs Braves: Braves to win

Best Bet for White Sox vs Braves: Braves -1.5

When Kopech is on, he can beat anyone, including the best team in the business. But you can’t really count on that from him, and you can’t count on Morton having one of his occasional poor performances, especially with his current ownership of the AL.

Look for that dominance to continue tonight and for the Braves to begin the second half with a win.

Where to Bet on White Sox vs Braves

The White Sox vs Braves odds in this article are from Bovada, but there are many reputable sports betting sites where you can bet on MLB this season, from games each day, to World Series futures, to the major individual awards.

Here are a few other online sportsbooks that we recommend for MLB betting:

• BetOnline
• BetUS
• Bookmaker
• Sportsbetting.ag

Do you see tonight’s matchup at Truist Park the same way that I do? Do you have any favorite bets for the game or for any of the other games on tonight’s MLB schedule? Reach out to me (@BN_EddieG) or the Betting News Twitter (@YourBettingNews) with your thoughts and picks!