Los Angeles Angels vs Atlanta Braves Prediction & Picks (8/1)

For those who were expecting a lot of fireworks in the series opener between the Los Angeles Angels and Atlanta Braves, there weren’t many. Will we see more in the second game of the series 7:20 pm ET, Bally Sports West & Bally Sports South)?

In Monday night’s opener, the Angels claimed a 4-1 win behind an excellent performance on the mound and solo homers by new acquisition Randal Grichuk, Chad Wallach, and Luis Rengifo.

Among the MLB MVP favorites and headliners in this series, MLB home run leader Shohei Ohtani went 2 for 3 with a walk and was robbed of a home run by Michael Harris Jr., while Ronald Acuna Jr. went 0 for 3 with a walk. Matt Olson provided the only run for the Braves with his 36th homer of the season.

The Braves have been MLB’s best team in games following a win this season, but how will they fare following Monday’s loss? They are heavily favored to bounce back with NL Cy Young Award candidate and MLB strikeout leader Spencer Strider on the mound.

Los Angeles Angels vs Atlanta Braves Odds

Odds are via Bovada.

Moneyline

• Los Angeles Angels +210
• Atlanta Braves -260

Over/Under

• Over 9 (-115)
• Under 9 (-105)

Run Line

• Los Angeles Angels +1.5 (+100)
• Atlanta Braves -1.5 (-120)

Can the Angels Shut Down Atlanta’s Bats Again?

Against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Braves were on fire at the plate. In an impressive three-game sweep, they racked up 11 homers, 29 runs, and 41 hits.

The Angels stopped them in their tracks last night, thanks to Chase Silseth (5 IP, 3 H, R, 4 K) and a strong effort by the bullpen (one hit allowed in four scoreless innings).

The Braves are only 20-16 (55.6%) in games following a loss this season, compared to an MLB-best 46-21 (68.7%) following a win. So, even though they are heavily favored to rebound with a win over the Angels, it’s far from a lock.

In fact, Patrick Sandoval has much better numbers on the road and in night games than he does at home and in day games.

Season Splits for Los Angeles Angels SP Patrick Sandoval

• Home (8 GS): 2-4, 4.75 ERA, .275 OBA
• Away (10 GS): 4-3, 3.55 ERA, .231 OBA
• Day (7 GS): 2-5, 6.00 ERA, .273 OBA
• Night (11 GS): 4-2, 3.05 ERA, .241 OBA

After going 1-3 with a 7.11 ERA in five starts in June, Sandoval had his best month of the season ERA-wise in July. In three starts, he was 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA. After giving up 39 hits and 21 runs (20 earned) in 39 innings in June, he allowed nine hits and five runs (four earned) in 17.1 innings in July.

However, the Braves counter that with some strong batting splits.

Season Battling Splits for the Atlanta Braves (Entering Monday)

• Home: .281 BA, 6.00 runs per game
• Away: .258 BA, 5.29 runs per game
• Day: .250 BA, 5.35 runs per game
• Night: .280 BA, 5.81 runs per game
• vs LHP: .291 BA
• vs RHP: .264 BA
• Games started by LHP: .277 BA, 5.83 runs per game
• Games started by RHP: .269 BA, 5.62 runs per game

If Atlanta can get it going again at the plate after a tough night, it will give Strider, who allowed 12 runs (11 earned) and 18 hits in his three previous starts, a little more margin for error to work with.

Against the Angels, Strider will be looking to log his fifth straight double-digit strikeout showing. It would be his seventh in nine interleague starts this season and his tenth overall this year.

He’ll also be looking to avoid hitting the wall in the seventh inning as he did in his last two starts against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox.

In each start, he pitched six stellar innings, only for things to unravel in the seventh. He allowed four runs in the seventh against the Diamondbacks after blanking them across the first six, and he set the stage for Boston’s successful rally by allowing a homer and a single to start the seventh.

Los Angeles Angels vs Atlanta Braves Prediction and Best Bets

Angels vs Braves Best Bets: Braves -1.5 (-120 at Bovada) & Spencer Strider over 9.5 strikeouts (-145)

Since he was moved into the rotation last year, the Braves had lost consecutive Strider starts only once. They are 30-11 in his 41 starts, a record that includes a 16-5 mark at home and a 17-4 mark in 2023.

Of those 30 wins in 41 starts, 24 have been by multiple runs. That includes 12 of the 16 home wins and 12 of the 17 wins in 2023.

So, the numbers favor the Braves covering the run line here. That is the pick to prioritize here, as well as the over on Strider’s strikeout total. The Angels struck out 13 times in the opener, eight of those in six innings against Braves starter Charlie Morton.

Where to Bet on MLB

Many of the top online sportsbooks offer a wide variety of MLB odds throughout the season. In addition to being able to make daily MLB picks on games from Opening Day until the final game of the Fall Classic, you can also bet on the other major awards (MLB MVP, Cy Young Award, and MLB Rookie of the Year) and World Series odds.

• BetOnline
• BetUS
• Bookmaker
• Sportsbetting.ag

Along with Bovada, where the Nationals vs Mets odds in this article came from, there are plenty of sports betting sites you can choose from that are good for MLB betting. The above books are some of the others that we highly recommend.

If you don’t have an account at a book on this list, check out our reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.