MILWAUKEE vs. ATLANTA 5/17/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview

The MILWAUKEE and the ATLANTA will both be gunning for a victory on 5/17/2019 at 7:20 PM when they meet in a game matchup.

MILWAUKEE vs ATLANTA
GAME: Milwaukee Brewers (27-19) at Atlanta Braves (23-21)
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 17 – 7:20 PM EST
WHERE: SunTrust Park, Cumberland, Georgia

TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS South (Atlanta)
LINE: -135
PREDICTION: Braves 4, Brewers 2

Oddsmakers currently have the ATLANTA listed as -135 point favorites versus the MILWAUKEE, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

Christian Yelich has inflicted most of his damage on opposing pitchers at home this season, but the Milwaukee Brewers outfielder seeks to build off a big road performance entering Friday’s series opener at the Atlanta Braves. The reigning National League MVP homered twice in Thursday’s 11-3 victory at Philadelphia, giving him a major league-leading 18 with only three of them coming on the road in 2019.

Yelich, who ranks near the top of the NL in on-base percentage (.458) and slugging percentage (.760), had plenty of help when Milwaukee took three of four from the NL East leaders to start the week, as outfielder Ryan Braun finished 7-for-13 in the series after a three-hit day Thursday. The Brewers now take their shot at trying to slow down Braves rookie outfielder Austin Riley, who followed up a homer in his big-league debut with three hits and two runs scored in Thursday’s 10-2 home win over St. Louis. Atlanta has won five of six games since outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. moved to the top of the lineup, and last season’s NL Rookie of the Year is hitting .330 with 20 homers in 73 career games hitting in the leadoff spot. Atlanta’s good work of late and Milwaukee’s success in Philadelphia has pulled the Braves within 1 1/2 games of the Phillies in the NL East.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (3-4, 4.57 ERA) vs. Braves LH Max Fried (5-2, 3.25)

Chacin has pitched well in his past three starts, recording a 1.59 ERA and holding opponents to a .186 batting average with 11 hits allowed over 17 innings. The 31-year-old suffered a tough-luck loss Sunday at the Chicago Cubs, surrendering two runs (one earned) with one walk and four strikeouts over six innings of a 4-1 loss – six days after giving up two runs on three hits across five innings against Washington. Chacin, who has posted a 3.12 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in his past five outings, is 2-4 with a 3.69 ERA in seven career starts against Atlanta and beat the Braves in his lone appearance against them last season.

Fried starts on regular rest in place of Kevin Gausman (suspended for throwing at Miami’s Jose Urena) and looks to become the third pitcher in the NL to reach six wins on the season. The 25-year-old defeated Arizona on Sunday despite giving up a season-high nine hits over five innings, walking one while striking out seven and surrendering three runs. Fried, who left his previous start May 7 at the Los Angeles Dodgers after taking a line drive off his pitching hand, is 7-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 17 career starts but gave up four runs in his only career matchup with Milwaukee – a three-inning start last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Brewers placed Manny Pina on the injured list with a strained right hamstring suffered Wednesday, recalling fellow C Jacob Nottingham from Triple-A San Antonio to back up Yasmani Grandal.

2. Braves RHP Luke Jackson is 2-0 with a 0.43 ERA with 27 strikeouts, five walks and five saves in his past 18 games.

3. Grandal and Brewers INF Mike Moustakas each homered Thursday, combining to drive in six runs and score three times helping Milwaukee improve to 11-2 against the NL East.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Brewers 2

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