There are 13 games on the MLB betting board this Wednesday, beginning with an NL East clash between the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves at 12:20 p.m. ET.
This matchup will conclude a three-game set at Truist Park as the Nationals try to bounce back from a 16-4 loss last night. The Braves are -209 home favorites for this contest with the Over/Under at 9.
Here are our best free MLB picks and predictions for Nationals vs. Braves on April 13.
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Nationals vs Braves odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
This line opened with the Braves installed as -210 home favorites with the Over/Under at 9. The line has since shortened to -200 while the total has ticked down to 8.5 at some books but is juiced towards the Over at around -120.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until kickoff and be sure to check out the full MLB odds before placing your bets.
Nationals vs Braves predictions
Picks made on 4/13/2022 at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Nationals vs Braves game info
• Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
• Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2022
• First pitch: 12:20 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports, MASN
Nationals vs Braves betting preview
Starting pitchers
Josiah Gray RHP (0-1, 9.00 ERA): The 24-year-old was part of the package that the Nationals received for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner last year. He struggled during spring training, giving up five dingers and 11 runs in 9 2-3 innings, and those problems followed him into his season debut last Friday when he was shredded for eight hits and four earned runs across four innings.
Max Fried LHP (0-1, 7.94 ERA): The southpaw had a brutal start to his year last Thursday when he surrendered eight hits and five runs to the Reds before getting the hook midway through the fifth inning. Fried also didn't look sharp during spring training where he pitched to a 6.43 ERA in a pair of starts.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Nationals: Nelson Cruz DH (questionable), Carter Kieboom 3B (Out).
Braves: Ronald Acuna Jr. OF (Out), Luke Jackson RP (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Nationals are 18-44 in their last 62 games overall. Find more MLB betting trends for Nationals vs. Braves.
Nationals vs Braves picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Run line analysis
The Braves got pumped 11-2 by the Nats two days ago but responded in a big way last night with a 16-4 victory powered by a pair of home runs from Marcell Ozuna.
Atlanta's sleeping bats came alive yesterday and if sluggers like Ozuna, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Dansby Swanson, and the newly acquired Matt Olson can play up to their abilities, the Braves should have no problem generating runs until Ronald Acuna Jr. returns to the squad.
Max Fried will toe the rubber for the Braves tonight and he'll try to bounce back from a brutal performance on opening day against the Reds last week. Now, some of that can be chalked up to bad luck as Cincinnati batters made very little hard contact (four of the eight hits had exit velocities below 70 mph), but the end result was quite poor. Fried was very reliable last season going 14-7 with a 3.04 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP and an OBA of .227 in 28 starts.
The Braves also have a very strong bullpen behind Fried after adding closer Kenley Jansen and right-hander Collin McHugh during the offseason.
The Nats have a much less impressive bullpen and an even less impressive starter in Josiah Gray. The young righty was also lit up in his first start of the season but unlike Fried he also struggled last year, pitching to a 5.48 ERA and giving up 19 homers in 70 2-3 innings.
Although Washington has a few dangerous hitters, including Juan Soto and Josh Bell, its overall lineup has plenty of holes from top-to-bottom.
With the Braves going 15-6 against the Nats since the start of last season, we like Atlanta to continue its recent dominance with a big win on Wednesday.
Prediction: Braves RL (-110 at SportsInteraction)
Over/Under analysis
Gray could be in for a really rough (and quick start) today. The 24-year-old has potential and some decent stuff but he struggles mightily with the long ball. Gray had a 46.2 hard-hit percentage last season, which would have ranked third-worst in the majors if he had pitched enough to qualify.
That's bad news against a Braves lineup loaded with power hitters that finished last season with a 40.8 hard-hit percentage, the best number in the NL.
That said, Washington might also be able to score some runs in this one. While the Nats lineup has plenty of holes they did manage 11 runs just two days ago and Fried has looked shaky in both spring training and his season debut. The Braves starter was also inconsistent against Washington last year, posting a 4.08 ERA with a .303 OBA in six starts.
Prediction: Over 8.5 (-120 at Bet365)
Best bet
Although the Braves have gotten their season off to a modest 3-3 start, they are still the defending World Series champs and are a legitimate threat to repeat after replacing Freddie Freeman with Olson and bolstering their bullpen.
On the other hand, the Nats recently tore apart their squad and are in the middle of a full rebuild.
Atlanta has the advantage in virtually every area and owned this NL East rivalry last year. That makes backing the Braves on the run line the easy and correct choice.
Pick: Braves RL (-110 at SportsInteraction)
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