Two National League division leaders face off when the San Francisco Giants visit the Atlanta Braves to open one of the most intriguing series on the MLB betting board this weekend.
Game 1 should be a hell of a pitcher’s duel as Kevin Gausman toes the rubber against Max Fried. Gausman has been one of the best pitchers in the NL this season, while Fried is rounding into peak form at the right time. So, who has the betting edge?
Giants vs Braves game info
• Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
• Date: Friday, August 27, 2021
• Time: 7:20 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports Southeast, KNTV
Giants vs Braves odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Giants vs Braves betting preview
Starting pitchers
Kevin Gausman (12-5, 2.47 ERA): Gausman has been one of the NL’s best starters all season long, boasting a 1.01 WHIP and limiting opposing teams to a .183 batting average to go along with that impressive ERA. Gausman has also done his best work on the road, where his ERA drops to 1.70.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Giants: Buster Posey C (Questionable), Evan Longoria 3B (Out).
Braves: Eddie Rosario OF (Questionable), Grant Dayton RP (Questionable).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings between the Giants and Braves. Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Braves.
Moneyline pick
Many people around baseball have been waiting for the Giants regression all season... but that’s just not in the cards. They hit for average, they hit for power, they have excellent starting pitching, and a strong bullpen. Simply put: They are a balanced and strong baseball team.
The Giants come into this game on another winning streak, as well. This one is at five games and they have won 14 of their last 17 overall (no wonder the Dodgers can’t make up any ground). And while Gausman has been a little more human of late, he still hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last five starts.
The Braves come into this one losers of two straight, seeing their nine-game winning streak get halted in a two-game set against the Yankees, and hope Fried can get them back in the winning column. As noted, the lefty has been outstanding lately. However, four of his last five starts have come against the Orioles, Nationals, and the floundering Mets — not exactly stiff competition.
The Braves hitting has also cooled off after their hot stretch, plating just 3.2 runs per game over their last five contests.
Yes, Fried is on fire, but you are giving me plus money with one of the best teams in baseball — with their best starter getting the ball. I can’t say no to that.
PREDICTION: Giants (+115)
Over/Under pick
While the side in this game is close to a coin flip, at 8.5 the total looks like a more rock-solid bet. As noted, the Braves bats have cooled off a bit and they are hitting just .218 in their last five games against right-handed pitching.
On the other side, Fried has looked nearly unhittable since the All-Star break, pitching to a 1.57 ERA while limiting opponents to a .211 batting average over his last seven starts. And while the Giants have a solid lineup, they are a little more mortal against lefties, ranking 14th in batting average when facing southpaws this season.
When you throw two of the best bullpens in baseball into the mix (San Francisco and Atlanta rank second and ninth, respectively, in reliever ERA), the Under is a solid bet at this number.
PREDICTION: Under 8.5 (-110)
Giants vs Braves betting card
- Giants (+115)
- Under 8.5 (-110)
Picks made on 8/27/2021 at 1:41 p.m. ET
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