⚾ Braves vs. Phillies Prediction & Picks: MLB Odds for Saturday, April 18

Two of the National League East’s top contenders do battle in the middle game of a three-game series as the Philadelphia Phillies host the Atlanta Braves from Citizens Bank Park, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET (FOX). The pitching matchup is between two aces as Chris Sale opposes Cristopher Sanchez, and the Phillies are -130 betting favorites.

My Braves vs. Phillies prediction backs the road underdogs as I have concerns about Philadelphia’s slow start. I also expect the best version of Sale to show up, even if there is value on a Phillies slugger to go deep as part of my MLB picks.

⚾ Braves vs. Phillies picks & odds today

See all of our experts’ MLB picks based on the latest MLB odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

Total wagered: 2.25 units | Max profit: 3.33 units

🏆 Who will win Braves vs. Phillies?

Atlanta’s 13-7 start through 20 games is a product of it leading MLB in runs (115), while also owning the best starting pitching ERA in the entire league (2.68). That combination should lead to another win while looking for a series victory.

Score prediction: Braves 5, Phillies 3

💰 Braves vs. Phillies prediction & best bet

Braves ML (+110)

Chris Sale’s velocity in his last start was a welcomed sight. At one point, Sale threw consecutive pitches of 98-plus mph. His fastest pitch was 99.4, and he had thrown just two pitches overall at 99 mph or harder since the start of 2019.

Meanwhile, Christopher Sanchez entered the year as a bonafide NL Cy Young candidate, but has been inconsistent with 11 hits allowed to the light-hitting Giants, and control issues with four walks allowed against the Nationals.

Even in a down year where they finished 10 games under .500, Atlanta still went 23-20 against left-handed starting pitchers. 

🔥 Best Braves vs. Phillies player prop bet

Chris Sale Over 7.5 strikeouts (+120)

Sale recorded six strikeouts in his last start, overcoming the fact that he got whiffs on just four of 18 swings against his slider. I expect positive regression at least from that pitch alone though, as his slider generated a 35.8% whiff rate through his first three starts, and a 39.8% whiff rate in 2025.

Meanwhile, Sale’s four-seam fastball averaged 95.7 mph, which matched his season-high from Opening Day. Sale likely would have been in line for a second straight start of seven strikeouts, but the offense broke the game open (the team led 9-1 when he exited), and there wasn’t as much of a need to try and overpower hitters. 

This is my top player prop pick as not only have current Phillies slashed .229/.281/.387 in 83 combined at-bats against Sale, but they’ve also struck out a whopping 33 times.

💣 Braves vs. Phillies home run prediction

Kyle Schwarber to hit a home run (+413)

Since the start of the 2022 season, Kyle Schwarber has 23 multi-homer games, more than anyone not named Aaron Judge. He has homered twice in 14 at-bats off Sale while slashing .286/.333/.857.

Schwarber is coming off a career-high 56 home runs last year, and tortured Braves pitching, even smashing four home runs in one game. He went deep once in every 10.8 at-bats last season which trailed only Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge.

Schwarber remains a great bet to go deep despite facing one of the sport’s toughest lefties thanks to elite launch angle sweet spot (91st percentile) and barrel rates (99th percentile).

🚀 Braves vs. Phillies same-game parlay

While there is still an easy path for a Braves victory after a dominant outing from Sale even if Schwarber were to homer, I am swapping the home run pick for the last leg of this parlay in favor of the red-hot Matt Olson which better fits my Atlanta narrative. Olson entered the series amid a nine-game hitting streak, during which he batted .297 with four doubles, three home runs, eight RBIs, and a 1.015 OPS. 

💵 My betting record for MLB picks

All MLB picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since March 26.

💡 How I'm betting Braves vs. Phillies: MLB strategy

Follow all of our MLB analysis and expert predictions for baseball season.

As is typical of my MLB betting strategy, I am allocating a full unit of my bankroll on my best game prediction (Braves ML) and player prop wager (Sale's strikeouts), while lowering my home run prop wager to a 0.25-unit play. I would not put anyone off playing something regarding Olson, who I inserted into the last leg of my same-game parlay, as he has hit safely in 18 of 20 games.

📊 Live Braves vs. Phillies odds

The Phillies range from -126 to -131 moneyline betting favorites, but the Braves are a popular underdog getting 59% of the early moneyline wagers. As a result of that betting split, the biggest move thus far is Atlanta shortening from +116 to +108 at FanDuel.

The total has not budged from an O/U of 7.0 runs at any of the top sports betting sites. Oddsmakers don't seem too concerned at DraftKings that 70% of the early wagers have backed the Over, as that could suggest sharp action on the Under.

📈 Braves vs. Phillies betting trends

🚑 Braves vs. Phillies injuries

📺 How to watch Braves vs. Phillies

• Date: Saturday, April 18
• First pitch: 7:15 p.m. ET
• Ballpark: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia)
• TV: FOX
• Streaming: MLB.TV
• Braves starter: Chris Sale (3-1, 3.27 ERA)
• Phillies starter: Cristopher Sanchez (2-1, 2.01 ERA)