Yankees vs Braves Odds, Picks, and Probable Pitchers (August 24)

• The Atlanta Braves are -150 favorites over the New York Yankees on Tuesday (August 24th, 7:20 pm ET)
• Atlanta will give the ball to Charlie Morton (12-4, 3.47 ERA), while New York will counter with Andrew Heaney (8-8, 5.51 ERA)
• Read below for odds, analysis and a betting prediction

Two of the hottest teams in baseball square off on Tuesday (August 24th) in Atlanta, in the series finale of a two-game set. The visiting New York Yankees took the opener 5-1 on Monday, extending their winning streak to 10, while snapping the Braves nine-game win streak in the process.

Yankees vs Braves Odds

Odds as of August 24th at DraftKings.

Oddsmakers are expecting Atlanta to bounce back on Tuesday, as the Braves opened as -150 favorites, in a game that features a total of 9.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:20 pm ET at Truist Park in Atlanta, with sunshine and 76 degree temperatures in the forecast.

On paper, the pitching matchup heavily favors the Braves, as they’ll send ace Charlie Morton to the mound in search of his third consecutive victory.

Probable Pitchers

Morton has pitched at least six innings in seven of his last eight starts, surrendering three runs or less in each of those outings. He’s been especially sharp in his past four appearances, allowing only six runs over 24 innings, while posting a 29-to-5 strikeout to walk ratio.

Charlie Morton, Vicious Curveballs.
3221 & 3102 RPMs. 😯 pic.twitter.com/2akyYh7zRU

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 19, 2021

After a down year in 2020, the 37-year-old is back to the form he showed while pitching for Houston and Tampa Bay from 2017-2019. He’s on pace to record the second highest WAR of his career, and he ranks top-six in all of baseball in xFIP.

Heaney vs Morton

He’s 4-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 11 career starts versus the Yankees, and has held sluggers Aaron Judge and Joey Gallo to just one hit combined in 28 at-bats.

He happens to be catching New York at the worst possible time however, as the Yankees lineup has been on fire recently. They’ve crossed the plate 29 times in their past four games alone, scoring at least five runs in all but two of the contests during their 10-game streak.

New York will counter with Andrew Heaney, who’ll be making his fifth start since being acquired from the LA Angels. The first three outings were underwhelming to say the least, but after surrendering 15 runs in his first 15 innings as a Yankee, the left-hander shut the door on Boston last time out.

The Red Sox making Andrew Heaney look like an ace might be what finally kills me.

— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) August 19, 2021

Heaney held the Red Sox to two hits and a single run en route to victory, while striking out four. He’s never made a start against Atlanta, however the current Braves batters he has faced in the past have not fared well.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

After posting two double-digit run totals in three games last week, Atlanta’s bats have cooled recently. They’re averaging just three runs per outing over their last four games, and have a lower slugging percentage and OPS versus lefties than righties.

Yankees vs Braves Pick

Prior to Monday, these two teams had met twice before with each outing lacking offensive production. Including Monday, all three of the Yankees-Braves matchups have come in well under the total, including the contest that featured Morton.

That night, the right-hander turned in a dazzling six inning performance, limiting the Bronx Bombers to three hits and a single run. 15 of his 25 starts have produced totals of 9 or less, and there’s reason to be bearish on the Atlanta bats versus Heaney.

Sluggers Ronald Acuna Jr and Marcell Ozuna are absent, while prominent bats Ozzie Albies (3-for-26) and Freddie Freeman (3-for-17) are currently struggling at the dish. A matchup with Heaney could cure that, however the entire lineup will be hard pressed to produce once New York’s relievers enter the game. The Yankees bullpen ranks first in xFIP, second in WAR, and are fresh off four scoreless innings in the series opener.

Pick: Under 9 (+100)