Wednesday's MLB postseason schedule begins in the NL East as the Atlanta Braves visit Citizens Bank Park to take on the Philadelphia Phillies. The division rivals meet for Game 3 of the best-of-five NLDS matchup. The Braves and Phillies are knotted at 1-1 in the 2023 MLB playoffs, with Philadelphia claiming the opener and Atlanta returning serve in comeback fashion in Game 2 on Monday. Bryce Elder (12-4, 3.81 ERA) takes the mound for the Braves, with Aaron Nola (12-9, 4.46) going for the Phillies.
For this game, SportsLine consensus lists Philadelphia as -123 money line favorites (risk $123 to win $100) in the latest Braves vs. Phillies odds. First pitch is scheduled for 5:07 p.m. ET. The total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 9. Before making any Phillies vs. Braves picks, be sure to check out the latest MLB predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It went 331-285 on top-rated MLB money-line picks (+357) over the past two seasons. It entered the second week of the 2023 MLB playoffs 92-74 on all top-rated MLB picks this season and has excelled on top-rated run-line picks, going 18-6 (+766). Anybody following has seen big returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Braves vs. Phillies and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several MLB betting lines and trends for Phillies vs. Braves:
- Braves vs. Phillies money line: Phillies -123, Braves +104
- Braves vs. Phillies over/under: 9 runs
- Braves vs. Phillies run line: Phillies -1.5 (+158)
- ATL: The Braves were 52-29 in regular season road games
- PHI: The Phillies were 49-32 in regular season home games
- Braves vs. Phillies picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back the Braves
Elder was an All-Star in 2023 and had success against the Phillies lineup. He had a 3.38 ERA against it across two starts and 10.2 innings pitched, holding Philadelphia to a .167 batting average. From there, the Braves can draw confidence from a deep, effective bullpen. Braves relievers have combined for seven scoreless innings in the series, operating as the only postseason team not to allow a run from the bullpen in 2023. The Braves also finished in the top five of the NL in ERA (3.81) and strikeouts (642) from relievers.
On the offensive side, Atlanta finished atop the NL in runs scored (947), batting average (.276), on-base percentage (.344), OPS (.845), and home runs (307). Nine Atlanta players hit at least 17 home runs, headlined by MLB home run leader Matt Olson with 54 blasts. Ronald Acuna Jr. is the MVP frontrunner after making MLB history by becoming the first player to hit at least 40 home runs and steal at least 70 bases in a season. With Atlanta's potent combination of power and run prevention, the Braves had the best overall profile of any team in MLB and won a league-high 104 games. See which team to back here.
Why you should back the Phillies
The Phillies have excelled at home, particularly in the postseason, and the series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3. Philadelphia's offense is filled with powerful bats, headlined by Bryce Harper, but it could be run prevention that sets the Phillies apart in Game 3. Nola takes the ball for the Phillies, and the former All-Star tossed seven scoreless innings in his first playoff outing against Miami.
Nola averaged 9.4 strikeouts and only 2.1 walks per nine innings in 2023, and he allowed only three earned runs in his final two regular season starts. Nola is comfortable at home, posting a 3.29 ERA in Philadelphia this season, and he can turn the ball over to a strong bullpen. Philadelphia's relief corps has a 2.38 ERA in the postseason, averaging 5.5 strikeouts for every walk. That comes after the Phillies ranked near the top of the league in bullpen ERA (3.58), walks allowed (217 and batting average against (.232) this season. See which team to back here.
How to make Phillies vs. Braves picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 10.1 combined runs. It also says one side of the money line has all of the value. You can only get the model's MLB picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Braves vs. Phillies, and which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on, all from the model that has gone 92-74 on its top-rated MLB picks, and find out.
