Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Atlanta Braves Best Bet: Will the Braves Bats Finally Wake Up Tonight?

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Atlanta Braves Best Bet: Will the Braves Bats Finally Wake Up Tonight?

Diamondbacks vs. Braves Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: May 31, 2022
• Game Time: 9:40 pm ET
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV

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Diamondbacks vs. Braves Line Movement

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Atlanta Braves Prediction

The Braves have had a very up and down start to their season and the Diamondbacks actually have a better record than them which is extremely surprising this deep into the season, but it has largely been due to the Braves inconsistency at the plate.

They have a loaded lineup with guys like Acuna, Olson, Ozuna, Riley, and Albies but they have been striking out at a very high rate this season. The Braves are currently dead last in the league in strikeout percentage at 26.6%, which is 1.3% worse than the team in front of them, which happens to be Arizona at 25.3%.

This high strikeout rate from the Braves really came into play last night in the 5th inning against Gallen. The Braves had runners at second and third with 1 out and were only down 1 run and proceeded to strikeout twice in a row. This was essentially the most important sequence of the game as the Braves would not score another run after that and would eventually lose the game 6-2.

Tonight, the Braves will face right-hander, Humberto Castellanos, who comes into this contest with a 3-2 record but a slightly below average 5.22 ERA, so he has been getting some run support in his starts but has not been as dominant as Gallen or the other starters for Arizona to this point. Castellanos also has a fairly low strikeout rate as he has only tallied 27 total K's in just under 40 innings this season. So, the main question is, Will the Braves continue their offensive struggles against a more contact-oriented pitcher in Castellanos? I believe the answer is No.

I fully expect this Braves lineup to have a breakout type game against Castellanos who has struggled against some of the better lineups he has faced this season. In his last start against the Dodgers, he gave up 10 hits, 6 earned runs, and only registered 1 strikeout in 4 total innings of work.

Castellanos has also struggled a bit more at home compared to in his road starts as he has a 5.96 ERA at home compared to a 4.24 ERA on the road.

Castellanos has also really struggled against Right-Handed Hitters this season as they are slashing .305/.352/.463 against him on the year. I think Acuna, Ozuna, and Riley will all be able to take advantage of Castellanos's struggles versus righties and should have good games tonight.

The main concern for the Braves tonight is backing Charlie Morton who has been very inconsistent but tonight he is facing a lineup that is not too familiar with him and only one guy in the Diamondbacks lineup has faced him more than 10 total times. I think this unfamiliarity will play to Morton's advantage as it may take the Diamondbacks hitters a few times through the order to adjust.

While Morton has been inconsistent, I think he pitches much better tonight but I see this game as more of a breakout game for the Braves offense more than anything and think they will give Morton some early run support. With that being said, I am rolling with Braves F5 ML at -149 for 1U as my most confident MLB pick of the night.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Atlanta Braves Pick

• Braves F5 ML (-149) (Bet $149 to Win $100)

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