Peter Lewis
• Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros
• Sunday, April 23 at 1:30 PM ET
• Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia
Is this a preview of the World Series? That’s what a lot of Major League Baseball fans think, as the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros are set to face off in a huge set of games this week. Both of these powerhouse clubs hold high expectations for this year, which makes this week all the more interesting. Looking ahead to a big showdown, the Braves are favored to beat the Astros in Sunday’s series finale. Which team will come away with the victory?
The stands are expected to be packed in Atlanta at Truist Park. With how well the Houston fans travel too, the Astros supporters are sure to make plenty of noise. We don’t have to tell you that both of these clubs feature loaded lineups, as there’s home-run power from top to bottom for both the Braves and Astros. That’s why so many people across the globe are excited for this series to take place.
| Braves vs. Astros odds |  |  |  |  |
| Braves to win | -115 | -115 | -115 | -115 |
| Astros to win | +125 | +125 | +125 | +125 |
| Over to hit | -110 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Under to hit | -110 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
With Atlanta, they’re going to want to defend their home-field advantage. Luckily for the Braves, this team is off to a brilliant start this campaign. As of this writing, they’re 14-4 on the season and in first place in the NL East standings. With how electric Atlanta has been, countless people aren’t wasting time in betting on them to win the division. Not only that, but they think the Braves will capture the NL pennant. First, they’ll be focused on taking care of Houston.
According to the best-rated sportsbooks, which includes the reliable Bovada review, Atlanta holds -115 MLB betting odds to post a win on Sunday vs. the Astros. As for Houston, they will have an upset on their minds, holding +125 odds. With how good Houston is, it wouldn’t be a major shock if they were to post an upset in the series finale vs. Atlanta. However, we’re going with the Braves as our pick to record the victory.
Good morning to this baseball that just landed 😎@Delta | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/12kfKTW8bO
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 19, 2023
The under should hit between the Braves and Astros
As good as these offenses are for both Houston and Atlanta, the under should hit between the Braves and Astros when they face off on Sunday. Why, you ask? Because of the pitching matchup that’s on the way. With the Braves, they will be sending star hurler Max Fried out to the bump. Fried is easily one of the best pitchers in the National League and he’ll look to make a statement vs. such a strong Astros lineup.
Fried is 1-0 on the year, with his impressive 1.08 ERA. That ERA lets you know how great Fried can be when he’s on the hill. He’s going to have his hands full against Houston, as the Astros feature stars like Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman and more. Despite Houston being so talented, Fried is going to be ready to rise to the occasion and help his team post a win. People have full belief in Fried to get that job done.
Even Juan Soto had to smile that Max Fried curveballs are 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 😀 pic.twitter.com/ifGsjuL2ot
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) April 18, 2023
“I used to, early in my career, kind of be quiet as soon as I walked in,” Fried said after his first start of the year earlier in the week. “I’ve adjusted that, I realized that I can’t do that. I have to just be myself, and a couple of hours before the game is when it’s time to lock in and get ready for it.”
Fried missed plenty of action due to injury, but he was fantastic in his 2023 debut vs. the Padres. Now, he has his focus on the Houston Astros, who will hope to make a splash in this one. With the over/under set at seven runs, we think it will be quite tough for these teams to top that. We think this will be a low-scoring affair, which is why we’re going with the under as our pick for this meeting.
Braves hold the top World Series odds
In a flash, the Braves hold the World Series odds, which is wild. Before Game 1 of the regular season arrived, the Astros had the No. 1 World Series betting numbers, but things have quickly changed. Per the oddsmakers, the Braves are set at +600 to win it all. Houston now holds the No. 43 spot, as they’re at +700 behind the Braves and Dodgers.
This just goes to show how sharp the Braves have been to start the year. What’s been great for them is that Fried is back to full health, but the same can be said for some of their other young stars. This includes Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley and more. There’s a reason manager Brian Snitker is so pleased with their performances as a whole.
Atlanta won the World Series not long ago. They were hoping to get back to the Fall Classic last year, but their efforts fell short. This fall, there could be a completely different storyline. Atlanta is the top dog in the NL and it’s going to be tough for anyone to bring them down. They’re surely going to be a top contender the rest of the campaign.
