MLB Saturday: Brewers vs Braves

Braves Going for 4th Straight Victory

The Atlanta Braves will battle the Milwaukee Brewers at SunTrust Park on Saturday evening. Austin Riley has lengthened the Atlanta Braves lineup since being called up from AAA. Entering Saturday's game with the Brewers they will look to build off an explosive performance in Friday's 12-8 victory in the series opener.

Atlanta scored in each of the first three innings. They then took control with a nine-run sixth as Tyler Flowers, Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna Jr. finished with three hits apiece. Riley added two in his third big-league game.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Fox; LINE: Braves -115; O/U: 9.5 Over -115.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (2-0, 3.20 ERA) vs. Braves RH Kevin Gausman (2-3, 4.50)

Riley finished 2-for-5 to give the third baseman turned outfielder six hits in 12 at-bats. Homers from Dansby Swanson, Josh Donaldson and Flowers blew open the game in a 36-minute bottom of the sixth inning. The Braves won for the sixth time in seven games and finished with a season high in runs. They also matched their season best with 17 hits. It was a difficult series opener for the Brewers. They saw their three-game winning streak end with a thud. They finished with 10 hits, eight of them after the sixth inning, after the game was broken open. Atlanta's bullpen struggled after averaging 4.8 runs and 9.3 hits in winning 10 of their previous 13 games. Brewers Second baseman Keston Hiura was 2-for-3 in his major-league debut Tuesday. Since he was riding a 0-for-9 skid entering Friday. He went 2-for-4 in the series opener. Shortstop Orlando Arcia added two hits after going 4-for-22 in his previous six games.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

The Brewers' Anderson pitched well in two starts after moving from the bullpen into the rotation. He has not been on the mound since April 26 due to a right middle finger laceration. He has pitched to a 1.86 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across 9 2/3 innings in his two starts. He walked five with nine strikeouts and two runs allowed on six hits. Anderson allowed two runs with six strikeouts in four innings Monday for Triple-A San Antonio. He is 2-0 with a 4.84 ERA in four career starts against Atlanta. He has held opponents to a .216 average this season. Milwaukee pitchers had registered a 1.81 ERA while holding opponents to a .203 average during their 10-3 stretch before Friday.

The Braves Gausman returns with one extra day of rest. He is back after dropping the appeal of a five-game suspension from throwing at Miami's Jose Urena on May 3. He lasted just 1 2/3 innings. While appealing the ban, Gausman made one of his best starts of the season. May 11th at Arizona he struck out six with two walks and one run allowed on five hits over six innings. Gausman has allowed four or more earned runs in three of his first eight starts. He gave up one run across eight innings in his only career appearance against Milwaukee last season. Swanson broke a 0-for-17 slump with his three-run homer in the sixth Friday.

The Dart Throw: Braves 7, Brewers3.

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MLB Betting Odds & Trends

Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games
Milwaukee is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Milwaukee's last 9 games on the road
Milwaukee is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 5 games when playing Atlanta
Milwaukee is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Atlanta

Atlanta Braves
Atlanta is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Atlanta is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games
Atlanta is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Atlanta is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games at home
Atlanta is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing Milwaukee
Atlanta is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Milwaukee

Next up:
Milwaukee at Atlanta Sunday, May 19

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