The Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves are set to face off in a highly anticipated series. The Braves will visit American Family Field on Monday, June 9, at 7:40 p.m. ET for a three-game series.
Brewers' Outlook
The Milwaukee Brewers currently hold first place in the National League Central division, leading the St. Louis Cardinals by six games. However, their recent performance has been inconsistent, going 9-11 in July. This past weekend, they dropped two of three games to the Miami Marlins. Despite this, the Brewers have a strong offense, ranking ninth in runs scored this season, fueled by their patience at the plate and speed on the basepaths. They rank third in MLB in both walks and stolen bases. Key offensive contributors include William Contreras, who leads the team with 117 hits and a .789 OPS, and Rhys Hoskins, who leads the team with 17 home runs. On the pitching side, Freddy Peralta has been a standout, with 142 strikeouts, placing him among the top MLB pitchers.
Braves' Perspective
The Atlanta Braves are in a tight battle for a Wild Card spot after a disappointing July where they went 12-13. They are currently tied for the top Wild Card spot with the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Braves' offense has shown signs of improvement recently, scoring 17 runs in their last three games, including nine in one game. They have hit 16 home runs in the nine games since the All-Star break. Marcell Ozuna and Austin Riley have been performing well, while Matt Olson and Orlando Arcia seem to have found their rhythm. The Braves' pitching has been a strong point, holding the third-best team ERA in MLB.
Pitching Matchups
For the first game of the series on Monday, the Braves will start with reliever Grant Holmes, marking his first MLB start. Tuesday's starter has not been announced. In the series finale, Frankie Montas is scheduled to pitch against Charlie Morton. Montas has a 5-8 record with a 5.03 ERA. Morton is 6-6 with a 3.94 ERA.
Historical Performance
The Braves have a favorable record against the Brewers in recent seasons, going 14-8 in their last 22 encounters, including a 6-5 record in Milwaukee. The Braves swept Milwaukee in Atlanta last season and have a 14-6 record against them at home over the last six seasons.
Predictions and Odds
According to Stats Insider's analytics model, the Braves have a 63% chance of winning. The latest betting odds in Australia favor the Braves at $1.53, while the Brewers are listed at $2.60. The Brewers are 1.5-run underdogs, with odds of $1.93, while the Braves -1.5 are at $1.90. The over/under for total runs scored is set at 7.5, with odds of $1.91 for both over and under.
Key Matchups and Considerations
The series will feature intriguing matchups, including how the Braves' offense will fare against the Brewers' pitching, and vice versa. Keep an eye on William Contreras and Rhys Hoskins for the Brewers, and Marcell Ozuna and Austin Riley for the Braves. The performance of the starting pitchers, particularly Frankie Montas and Charlie Morton in the final game, could be crucial.
