The Atlanta Braves (83-44) and San Francisco Giants (66-62) play Game 2 of a 3-game series at Oracle Park Saturday. First pitch is slated for 4:05 p.m. ET (FS1/MLB.TV Free Game of the Day).

Season series: Braves lead 3-1

The Braves began their 10-game West Coast swing with a 5-1 victory behind a dominate pitching performance from SP Spencer Strider on Friday night. He struck out 9 Giants over 7 innings of 3-hit ball. That was their 3rd consecutive win and 6th in their last 9 games. Atlanta is 39-22 on the road this season.

The Giants’ loss on Friday night was their 14th in their last 18 games. San Francisco has been outscored 34-18 in their last 7 home games. They are 12-17 against the NL East this season.

Braves at Giants projected starters

LHP Max Fried vs. RHP Ryan Walker

Fried (4-1 2.83 ERA) will make his 10th start. He has a 1.20 WHIP 1.7 BB/9 and 8.5 K/9 in 47 2/3 innings.

• Last start: No-decision 5 2/3 IP 3 ER 9 H 1 BB 6 K in 4-3 home loss vs. Giants Sunday
• 2023 road stats: 3-0 1.93 ERA (23 1/3 IP 5 ER) .230 OBA in 5 starts

Walker (4-2 2.14 ERA) will make his 11th start and 35th appearance. He has a 1.19 WHIP 2.5 BB/9 and 10.3 K/9 in 46 1/3 innings.

• Last start: Loss 1 IP 0 ER 1 H 1 BB 2 K in 6-1 home loss vs. Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 16
• 2023 home stats: 2-1 2.05 ERA (26 1/3 IP 6 ER) .270 OBA in 17 games (8 starts)
• Has never faced Atlanta

Braves at Giants odds

• Moneyline (ML): Braves -175 (bet $175 to win $100) | Giants +145 (bet $100 to win $145)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Braves -1.5 (-105) | Giants +1.5 (-115)
• Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -120 | U: +100)

Braves at Giants picks and predictions

Prediction

Braves 5 Giants 2

Moneyline

PASS.

I like the Braves to win this game but not enough to bet nearly 2 units to win back 1. I’ll look towards the run line in this one.

Run line/Against the spread

BET BRAVES -1.5 (-105).

There is no question that the Braves are the better team in this one. The fact that they are on the road does not matter when they are nearly 40 games above .500. In Atlanta’s last 8 victories it has covered the run line in 6 of them including Friday against this same Giants team. I would like to see +100 or better but I’ll take -105.

Over/Under

LEAN THE UNDER (+100).

When you’ve got an opener like Ryan Walker on the mound it’s hard to judge the run total. You just don’t know what arms they are going to put out there against the Braves. It really should not matter when it comes to the outcome but predicting the total runs is tougher. I’ll likely not make this bet but I’d lean to the under because of Max Fried being on the mound for Atlanta.