Braves vs. Diamondbacks MLB Best Bets for May 30 (Archive)
The Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks appear to be on opposite trajectories as the two teams come together in Phoenix to start a three-game series on Monday. Below, we’ll analyze this baseball matchup, break down the MLB odds and share two winning picks! Let’s start.
Atlanta Braves vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Monday, May 30, 2022 – 08:10 PM EDT at Chase Field
Braves vs. Diamondbacks Takeaways
- The Braves won four of their last six—all against NL East rivals—to move into second place in the division.
- Atlanta is two games below .500 and looking to move within a game of break-even for the first time since April 29. They now head west in search of hitting a new season-high.
- The Braves haven’t been at .500 since being 5-5 on April 16, and 2-1 after three games is the only time they’ve had a winning record.
- The Diamondbacks had a successful first month and a half but were swept at home in a four-game weekend series by the Dodgers, dropping the D-Backs to a season-worst 11 games out of first.
Atlanta Braves Highlights
What the Braves aren’t is a streaky team. 48 games into the season, Atlanta still has not won—or lost—more than two games in a row. The inconsistency has prevented the Braves from making a real run for first place in the division.
The Braves are convinced they’re regaining the magic that led them to last season’s World Series title after beating the Marlins in a pair of three-game series and splitting four with the Phillies.
“We're starting to come around,” manager Brian Snitker said after Sunday’s 6-3 win over the Marlins, which featured a season-high nine extra-base hits. “We have been for a few days.”
The win capped off the first winning homestand of the season for the Braves. “Everything is pulling together," Marcell Ozuna said. "I think we have a good group, and we are champions.”
Atlanta shuffled its pitching staff over the weekend, releasing veteran Tyler Thornburg and sending down Tucker Davidson. The Braves called up veteran Jesus Cruz, who had 20 strikeouts and one walk at Triple-A.
The moves cleared a spot in the rotation for promising prospect Spencer Strider who will make his first MLB start on Monday. He is 1-1 with a 2.22 ERA in 11 relief appearances. He’s allowing just over a baserunner an inning and has struck out 37 in 24.1 innings.
Arizona Diamondbacks Highlights
The Diamondbacks’ last two weeks have featured a six-game losing streak and the current four-game skid as the team has fallen from three games over .500 to three under and from three games out of first in the NL West to 11 back.
Arizona has gone 15-7 against teams with losing records, however, and will look to extend that success by keeping the Braves below break-even in this three-game set.
The Diamondbacks will need to start hitting again. Arizona was averaging four runs per game heading into the four games against the Dodgers. The D-Backs gave up 14 in the opener and barely scored half that in the four games, combined, putting up eight runs in the series.
It’s the second time this year the Dodgers have swept four from Arizona. The D-Backs have a minus-31 run differential in 11 games against Los Angeles, and minus-3 in 38 games against everyone else.
Arizona got back Kyle Nelson, who was activated from the injured list, and Daulton Varsho, who was day-to-day after getting hit by a pitch on Friday, was able to pinch-hit in the last game.
The D-Backs will start Cy Young candidate Zac Gallen, who is 3-0, 2.22 on the year.
Braves vs. Diamondbacks Betting Picks
Other than when the Dodgers are in the opposite dugout, Arizona has been a different team this year. For your MLB picks, look for the Backs to find their success again against the Braves, especially with Gallen on the mound against a rookie.
MLB Pick: Diamondbacks ML (+108) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
MLB Pick: Under 8.5 Runs (-110) with BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.