Mariners vs. Braves: Predictions, Odds, Best Bets, Starting Lineups (5/19/23)

This game features two young pitchers who have both shown a lot of promise early in the season. Let’s take a look at what’s on tap for tonight’s game including diving into the odds and making a definitive prediction on this Friday night showdown.

The Mariners are continuing their nine-game road trip with a visit to the Atlanta Braves on Friday. They’re looking to get back to .500 after dropping two games straight to the Red Sox this week. Meanwhile the Braves avoided consecutive series losses with a game-tying home run in the ninth against Texas on Wednesday.

Mariners vs. Braves Prediction

Prediction: Braves ML (-145)
The Mariners have their work cut out for them in this game, facing a Braves team with all the pieces from good hitting to solid pitching.

There is solid pitching all around here. Both teams have a 3.55 ERA, which is tied for the fourth-best in the league. Seattle is first in home runs against, second in walks, fourth in WHIP, and sixth in opponent batting average. Meanwhile Atlanta pitching is second in home runs against, fourth in strikeouts, and third in runs.

The starting pitcher matchup is intriguing here as it features Bryce Miller and Bryce Elder, both of whom have performed well through their first few games this season. Miller, who got called up earlier this year and has a 0.47 ERA since then, will have a real test in Ronald Acuna Jr. who leads the league in batting average (.345) and is second in OPS (1.050). This Braves team is second in team home runs, something Miller has yet to concede in his three starts.

Mariners bats have been relatively slow as of late including that of Jarred Kelenic, who leads the team in batting average. They have the third-worst OPS, the second-worst batting average, and the fourth-most strikeouts, heading into this game. Their job doesn’t get any easier this week against Elder, who has the third-best ERA in the league (1.94).

The Mariners didn’t look good against Boston in their last series, so it’s hard to count on them, though I’m rooting for Miller to have another strong showing. Take the Braves at home in Game 1.

Mariners vs. Braves Odds

The Mariners enter as road underdogs in this game at +120 on the moneyline. The over/under is 8.5 runs and you can get the Braves -1.5 at +145.

If you’re looking to bet the run line, note that Seattle covers the spread 80% of the time as the away underdog and Atlanta has covered just 22.2% of the time as the home favorite. The Braves do however, straight up win as home favorites 55.6% of the time.

Mariners vs. Braves Key Matchups

Here are the key matchups that could decide Mariners vs. Braves.

Bryce Miller vs. Braves Lineup

Bryce Miller of Seattle has done exceptionally well in his three appearances this season, all of which were quality starts. He boasts a 0.47 ERA over 19 innings pitched with just seven hits, zero home runs, and one walk. He should be a bright spot in this game.

Bryce Miller's career is off to a hot start. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eSxhQ4EWuJ

— MLB (@MLB) May 13, 2023

If he keeps up the hot streak, he should matchup well against a Braves offense that has four double-digit homerun hitters and the second-highest at bat to home run ratio (19.77). Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies seem to be there most consistent hitters right now, but the whole lineup is a big mix of power hitting and clutch hitters.

Mariners Defense vs. Themselves

The Mariners defense has been solid for this team for the last two seasons. Yet, the last two games of their series in Boston was anything but that, having given up 21 runs in that same period. The outfield was missing balls, Julio Rodriguez looked a step slow, J.P. Crawford was overthrowing, and Ty France… stepped on his own glove? The Mariners had 12 errors at this time last week, and they enter this game with 16.

Let’s hope the rest day helped to straighten this out because Acuna Jr. and company will make for a long nine innings otherwise.

Mariners vs. Braves Starting Lineups

Mariners Starting Lineup
SS J.P Crawford L
1B Ty France R
CF Jarred Kelenic L
3B Eugenio Suarez R
C Cal Raleigh S
CF Julio Rodriguez R
RF Teoscar Hernandez R
PH A.J. Pollock
2B Kolten Wong L

Braves Starting Lineup
RF Ronald Acuna Jr R
1B Matt Olson L
2B Ozzie Albies S
3B Austin Riley R
LF Eddie Rosario L
C Tracis d’Arnaud R
DH Marcell Ozuna R
SS Orlando Arcia R
CF Michael Harris L