The Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves meet Wednesday in MLB action from SunTrust Park. This will be the third installment in a four-game series this week. Philadelphia managed a four-run win in the opener Monday, then in game two the Braves evened it up with a tight victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Philadelphia scored six runs in the first three innings on Monday, eventually powering out a 7-3 win. On Tuesday, the Phillies posted two runs in the top of the ninth then gave up a pair in the bottom of the frame for a 6-5 loss. Starter Kyle Gibson finished with 5.0 innings, two earned, seven hits and a walk.
For the starter gig in the Wednesday game, the Phillies will go with Ranger Suarez. In his eight starts so far Suarez is 4-2 with a 4.12 ERA. Across 39.1 innings total Suarez has 42 hits 18 earned runs, 15 walks and 33 Ks.
Over on the Braves’ side, they put up 11 hits in the Monday game but couldn’t get much going on the scoreboard. In the Tuesday matchup Atlanta managed 14 hits in the comeback win. Max Fried put up 6.0 innings in the start with two earned on five hits and two walks.
Charlie Morton will take the mound for the Braves on Wednesday. In his eight starts this year Morton is 3-3 with a 4.95 ERA. Over his 40.0 innings Morton has 39 hits, 22 earned runs, 19 walks and 37 Ks.
The Phillies are 4-1 in their last five Wednesday games and 6-15 in their last 21 versus the NL East. The under is 4-1 in Philly’s last five in game three of a series.
Meanwhile, the Braves are 5-2 in their last seven at home versus a lefty starter and 2-5 in their last seven Wednesday games. Atlanta is 1-5 in their last six in game three of a series.
PICK: I’m going to try the Braves in this one. Morton has been fairly solid over his last three starts; he’s got 16.1 innings in that span with four earned on 11 hits and five walks during a pair of wins. As for Suarez, he’s coming off three earned on five hits and two walks in 3.0 innings his last time up. I like Suarez to get it together and pitch well in this one but I think the Braves will still power out the victory.