Marlins vs. Braves Prediction and Odds (A Sneaky Pithers Duel in the Works)

NL East rivals will run it back on Saturday evening when the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves face off in game two of their three-game series at Trust Park. The Braves took game one after shutting the Marlins out in a 3-0 win.

However, the reigning World Series champions have looked like anything but this year. They are below .500 and got smoked by the Dodgers in two of three games last week. I realize that Atlanta is still without Ronald Acuna Jr., but this team has more talent that is not playing up to snuff through 15 games. 

Things are going worse for Miami after a 5-8 start to the year. They are fourth in the NL East after losing three of their last four games overall. On paper, they are a far worse team than the Braves and are underperforming to boot. 

Here are the odds for this game, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook. 

Marlins vs. Braves Odds, Run Line, and Total

Run Line

• Marlins: -1.5 (-155)
• Braves: +1.5 (+127)

Moneyline:

• Marlins: -146
• Braves: +136

Total:

• Total 8 (Over +105/Under -125)

Marlins vs. Braves Prediction and Pick

At first glance, this appears to be a matchup between two weak pitchers. But, I think nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, the Braves’ Ian Anderson has an ugly 6.48 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in his first two starts. But, it's early in the year and one bad result can really skew your numbers. That is exactly what is happening here as Anderson was more like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in his first two games. He opened the year with a putrid 2 ⅔ inning performance against the lowly Reds. But, he snapped back against a much better Padres team last Saturday and spun 5 ⅔ innings of one-run ball. His only slip-up was a solo shot to Jurickson Profar in the bottom of the second. 

Anderson will face off against Elieser Hernandez tonight. The young righty struggled in his first game of 2022 as well. But, much like Anderson, bounced back and held a potent Phillies lineup to one run over six innings. He struck out five and walked one. Much like Anderson, Hernandez fell victim to a solo shot. 

I think that both players continue to put that first start behind them and have a strong outing here. The total is up at eight, and I think this matchup falls under that mark in game two after a 3-0 game one. 

Pick: UNDER 8 (-125)

Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE