New York Yankees vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, Odds and Preview - 08/23/2021

Game Time: 7:20 pm ET, Monday, August 2rd, 2021

Venue: Truist Park, Atlanta Georgia

Where to Watch:  YES, Bally Sports South, MLBN (out of market)

Yankees:  72-52 (2nd place AL EAST)

Braves:  67-56 (1st place, NL EAST)

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Yankees +130, Braves -150; Over/Under:  9 runs

Yankees:  Brett Gardner Day to Day, Gleyber Torres (thumb) Out, Gio Urshela (hamstring) Out

Braves:  Travis d’Arnaud (paternity) Out, Eddie Rosario (abdomen) Out 

Yankees:

D. LeMahieu, 2B
A. Rizzo, 1B
A. Judge, RF
G. Stanton, RF
R. Odor, 3B
L. Voit, DH
A. Velazquez, SS
K. Higashioka, C
T. Wade, LF
G. Cole, SP

Braves:

O. Albies, 2B
J. Soler, DH
F. Freeman, 1B
A. Riley, 3B
D. Swanson, SS
A. Duvall, LF
W. Contreras, C
G. Heredia, CF
J. Pederson, RF
T. Toussaint, SP

Yankees:

Batting Average:  Aaron Judge (.281)

Hits: DJ LeMahieu (127)

Home Runs:  Aaron Judge (27)

RBI:  Aaron Judge (65)

Stolen Bases:  Gleyber Torres (12)

Wins:  Gerrit Cole (12)

Saves:  Aroldis Chapman (23)

ERA:  Gerrit Cole (2.92)

Braves:

Batting Average:  Freddie Freeman (.300)

Hits:  Freddie Freeman (137)

Home Runs:  Freddie Freeman (27)

RBI:  Ozzie Albie (84)

Stolen Bases:  Ronald Acuna Jr (17)  *(60 day IL)

Wins: Charlie Morton (12)

Saves:  Will Smith (27)

ERA:  Huascar Ynoa (2.70)

Yankees:  Aaron Boone,  Brian Cashman GM
Braves:  Brian Snitker,   Alex Anthopoulos GM

The Yankees are 9-1 over their last ten, a full 9 game win streak and a day off going into Monday’s first game of a two-game series against the Braves.  The team had 5 Overs, 4 Unders, and a Push.  Swept the Minnesota Twins 3-0, swept the Boston Red Sox 3-0, 1-0 against the Los Angeles Angels, and 2-1 against the Chicago Whiite Sox.    That lone loss in the bunch was all the way back on Thursday August 12th.

The Braves are also 9-1 over their last ten games.  They had 4 Unders and 6 Overs in that span. They have an 8 game win-streak going into Sunday’s (today, now)  last match up with the Baltimore Orioles.  MLB picks and Predictions all wildly favor the Braves… Setting up a battle of 9 game win streaks on Monday!  Major League Baseball should be very happy and if they were smart they would drop the game off MLBN and shift it over to ESPN so more people could watch it…. In the ten the Braves beat Baltimore in the first two 2-0, swept Miami Marlins 3-0, swept Washington Nationals 3-0, and went 1-1 with the Cincinnati Reds.

The Season series was kicked off with a pitching matchup of Atlanta Braves Ian Anderson vs Yankees Corey Kluber back on April 21st

The Yankees are 17th in batting average .238, 19th in runs scored 537, 10th in home runs155.  The offense is fine to slightly above average with some big power hitters in the lineup.  The New York Yankees MLB odds to win the World Series is only 3%.  It’s that low because they aren’t dominating any of the offensive categories.  The strength of this team is…

The Pitching!  The Yanks are 5th in team ERA 3.63, 6th in strikeouts, and 8th best at runs given up by a pitcher at only 494.  The Yankees pitchers are more than capable of handing out scoreless innings.  The fans in attendance cheer when Aroldis Chapman comes in late to bring home the win.  Pitching has been this team’s strength since back in Apr. 

The Braves are 13th in batting average .243, 8th in runs scored 608, and 3rd in home runs with a big 180.  The Braves can hit.  There is some debate at the betMGM Sportsbook comments section on whether the numbers are inflated by being in such a weak division.  They are, after all, a first place team that has not crossed 70 wins as of yet, even the Milwaukee Brewers have 70 wins.

Braves pitchers are 13th in team ERA at 3.99, 18th in strikeouts 1095, and 12th best in runs given up by a pitcher 518.  They are solid, reliable, and focused.

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To bring you rousing MLB action, both teams have decided that their starting pitcher will be TBD. The probable pitchers are simply guys who will throw the first pitch and that will be decided by waiting until Monday morning and seeing who is throwing well and not too burnt out from the grind or the regular season.  The host Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees each have an impressive winning streak going (as of Sunday).  The Yankees streak is filled with drama in the hotly contested American League East, while the Braves have slightly easier sledding in the National League East.  So, while I can’t compare the starting WHIP for you, we can look closely at the team averages… since this will be a bullpen game for both sides.

MLB odds seem to favor the Yankees odds in this one, with an offense that has turned up the stats recently… but the Yankees are away from Yankee stadium in Aug and clinging to a slight lead over the Boston Red Sox with a hope they can catch the Rays before it’s all done.  The pressure and grind might be too much. Winning this one would give them a ten game streak going into Tuesday against the same Braves.. If the Yanks drop a game, I believe game 2 would be it.

Baseball fans in Atlanta have witnessed the Braves lineup record a multitude of highlights during their 8 game winning streak (Sunday results not in) including a 11-9 shootout with the Marlins Wednesday night that lit up the box score.  Even more impressive has been that all 8 games were road games.  Back in Truist Park Atlanta Braves Tickets should fly off the shelf with fans looking to give the standing ovation before they duke it out with the Bronx Bombers.

“We’re just having great at-bats, top to bottom,...The biggest factor has been wearing down the opposing pitcher. If we’ve got a lot of guys not chasing and forcing them to come into the zone, try to be more precise, they’re just going to make more mistakes. I think that’s what we’ve been doing.” -Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees power hitter, on how they’ve been keeping the win streak going.

“Sometimes I wonder if I overdo it,....I walk away from really talented players all time. I still try to balance that. I don't know that I'm ever going to find the right blend, but my default is always to go with the high-character good guys.”  -Alex Anthopoulos, Braves GM, congratulating himself for adding Jorge Soler at the trade deadline. (Instead of congratulating the player who is playing so well.)

Our MLB Pick for Monday, August 23rd, 2021 game is Yankees 7, Braves 5.    This is a toss up as both teams are playing lights out.  The edge comes from the Yankees getting a day of rest.  

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