The Atlanta Braves (3-1) face the Chicago White Sox (0-4) in the second game of a three-game set tonight at 7:40 PM EST in Chicago. Reynaldo Lopez makes his Braves debut while the White Sox send Garrett Crochet to the bump for his second start.
Lopez has put up great numbers as a reliever over the past few seasons. This will be his first start since 2022. He hasn't been a full-time starter since 2019 when he was a member of the White Sox. Lopez posted a solid 3.91 ERA in 32 starts in 2018. In 2019, he led the league in earned runs allowed.
Since 2021, Lopez has posted a 3.14 ERA with 9.6 SO/9 and 2.8 BB/9. Meanwhile, Crochet is coming off his very first major league start. Crochet had a great outing, pitching six innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out eight.
Braves vs White Sox Odds: Atlanta favored over Chicago
The Braves are favored at -1.5 runs today on DraftKings Sports Book. This is an improvement over yesterday's -2.5, which they had no problem covering, winning 9-0. The pitching matchup is not as favorable for the Braves today. Crochet is coming off a hot start while nobody knows what to expect from Lopez. Sounds good to me.
As of this writing, I don't see any player prop lines for Reynaldo Lopez's strikeouts. I imagine it will be rather low. The White Sox have struck out 40 times in 10 games. If the line for Reynaldo is set conservatively at 4.5, I'm taking the over.
Through four games, the Braves have scored 34 runs. The White Sox have scored just eight runs.
I'm taking the Braves at -1.5 and -142 odds (at the time of this writing). Check out current odds here.
Ozzie Albies player prop vs. White Sox
FanDuel Sports Book has Ozzie Albies listed at -370 odds to get a hit. Albies is seeing the ball very well through four games this season and has the treasured matchup against a lefty today. In his last start against a lefty, despite a bad track record against Ranger Suarez, Albies went yard anyway.
It is cold in Chicago and we saw Albies make a lot of solid contact yesterday but perhaps the weather kept the balls in the park. I'm not betting on a homer with the weather like it is in Chicago, but I'll gladly take an Albies hit (at the very least).
I'm of the opinion that Ozzie Albies is one of the Top 10 second basemen in MLB right now.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) March 31, 2024
How about you? pic.twitter.com/n9Ndj9QmH8
Ronald Acuna Jr. player prop parlay vs. White Sox
Ronald Acuna Jr. is always a good bet for a hit. I love parlaying Acuna to get a steal + hit. If you are a Braves fan representing the state of Florida (like me) then you have to use the Hard Rock Bet App or nothing. Hard Rock Bet has an Acuna stolen base set at +150.
Acuna hasn't stolen a base since Opening Day. He's due, although he looked uncomfortable in the cold yesterday, he's still due. Acuna stole a base in 38% of games played. If he doesn't have a steal today that will be four straight games without a steal.
If you like Acuna to get a stolen base, consider parlaying that with a run scored or over 1.5 total bases. Acuna scored in 44 of the 60 games in which he stole a base last year. Acuna had a hit in 54 of the 60 games in which he had a steal last year.
Acuna SB + R (+230 on Hard Rock Bet)
Acuna SB + 1.5 (over) TB (+350 on Hard Rock Bet)
Acuna SB + R + 1.5 (over) TB (+400 on Hard Rock Bet)
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