Best MLB bets today: Braves vs. Reds prediction, picks, props for August 2
Check out the SportsLine Projection Model's best MLB picks for Saturday's Atlanta vs. Cincinnati game

Saturday features a first for MLB as the third and final game between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds will take place at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. It's the first ever MLB game in the state of Tennessee, and the game will feature plenty of festivities beforehand, including ceremonial first pitches from Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Chipper Jones. The winner of Saturday's game will win the series as each of the first two games have been decided by a single run after Atlanta won 12-11 on Thursday and Cincinnati took Friday's contest 3-2. First pitch for Saturday's series finale is set for 7:15 p.m. ET on FOX.
Baseball fans wanting to get into MLB betting at top sportsbooks can get the latest Braves vs. Reds predictions and player props from the SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every game 10,000 times.
The Braves are sending Spencer Strider (5-8, 3.71 ERA) to the mound while the Reds are countering with rookie right-hander Chase Burns (0-3, 6.26 ERA). Strider, who started the year on the injured list, has pitched very well of late, allowing no more than three earned runs in nine straight starts. He's known for the strikeouts, and he's struck out at least seven hitters in three of his last four starts, as well. As for Burns, the rookie is still figuring it out as the Reds have lost five of his six career MLB starts, but he has struck out 10 or more batters in three straight outings.
Both pitchers have strikeout prop lines of 7.5 at FanDuel Sportsbook. Strider's Over is +104 and his Under is -132. As for Burns, his Over is +118 and his Under is -150. The model rates Burns Under 7.5 as a 5-star play with a projection of 5.9.
The Braves haven't homered in the first two games of this series, yet four different Atlanta players have the shortest odds to homer in Saturday's showdown. Austin Riley and Sean Murphy lead the way at +360, followed by Matt Olson at +400 Drake Baldwin at +480. Austin Hays and Matt McClain have the lowest home run odds for any Red at +540.
The Braves are -116 favorites (wager $116 to win $100) in the latest SportsLine consensus odds, while the Reds are +-104 (wager $104 to win $100) underdogs. The total is at 8, with the Over slightly favored at -112. You can find the model's latest projections and expert picks for Braves-Reds at SportsLine.
Here are the SportsLine model's projections for Braves vs. Reds on Saturday.
ATLANTA BRAVES at CINCINNATI REDS | 8/2 | 7:15 p.m. ET
Money line
Pick: Reds -104
Cincinnati wins in 55% of simulations
Run line
Pick: Reds +1.5 (-166)
Cincinnati covers in 69% of simulations, bringing value at these odds
Over/Under
Pick: Over 8 (-112)
The Under hits in 56.1% of simulations
Projected score: Braves 4.8, Reds 4.7
















