Braves Emerging as NL Wild Card Sleepers: Betting Odds Update

The Major League Baseball season is coming to a close, with just under a month left before the postseason gets underway in October, and now is the time to start looking at some World Series sleepers. Both the American League and the National League have several teams that are interesting choices at current odds, and with leading teams like Philadelphia, New York (Yankees), and Los Angeles (Dodgers) getting a majority of the action, we could see a surprise team make a run.

Taking a look at the National League, the Mets, Diamondbacks and Braves are all competing down the stretch for critical positioning when it comes to the playoffs. Personally, I could see any of them make it. However, one team stands out to me more than the others.

While there is little doubt that New York and Arizona have been better offensively with the brutal injuries that Atlanta has sustained, it may be shocking to find out that the Braves actually lead all of baseball in pitching xFIP vs. right-handed hitters. This is without Spencer Strider this season, which is very impressive to say the least.

Against right-handed hitters, Atlanta owns a 3.37 xFIP, which is .13 higher than the second-best team in Philadelphia at 3.50. Against left-handed batters, they are nearly just as good, sitting behind only the Dodgers with a 3.81 xFIP compared to L.A.’s 3.75.

This takes into account both starting pitching and bullpen pitching. Atlanta is once again No. 1 in starting pitcher xFIP at 3.48, while the bullpen is the best in baseball at 3.65. Of course, it helps to have the eventual NL Cy Young winner in Chris Sale to boost those starter numbers, but guys like Spencer Schwellenbach have been excellent as well. Charlie Morton remains an average arm at 40 years old, and the team has gotten the most out of Reynaldo Lopez. Last but not least, Max Fried has finally been able to stay healthy for an extended time and is pitching well.

Atlanta’s offense isn’t what it was last season, with just a 94 wRC+ vs. right-handed pitching, but they have still been effective against lefties with a 108 wRC+ as a lineup.

I think a lot of people have sold their stock in the Braves after their injuries this season, and with how they have performed relative to recent years. However, I wouldn’t count them out if they get to the playoffs. Pitching wins the day in the postseason, and the Braves do that better than anyone else.

You can get them at +2000 at BetMGM to win the World Series right now.

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