Brewers vs. Braves NLDS Game 3 Picks and Predictions

The Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves move their NL Divisional Series to Atlanta, with the best-of-five series knotted at one game each. The Braves shut out Milwaukee on Saturday after dropping the opener to steal home-field advantage from the Central Division champions.

Read on to take a look at the MLB odds and the best sportsbook to bet with today. 

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Atlanta Braves

Monday, October 11, 2021 - 01:07 PM EDT at Truist Park

The National League Divisional Series follows the Braves’ journey from decades ago, moving from Milwaukee to Atlanta. The Brewers and Braves split the first two games of the best-of-five, with NL Central champion Milwaukee winning the opening game, and the NL East champs, Atlanta, getting a shutout win in game two.

The win gave Atlanta the home-field advantage, meaning the Braves have a chance to wrap up the series before it ever returns to Milwaukee. The next two games will be in Atlanta before a potential game five would head back to Milwaukee.

https://youtu.be/ntreuNVtnkU?t=69

The two teams, ironically, had to stay up late Sunday to see how early they’d have to report to work on Monday. Game Three was selected by TV to start off the day with the earliest time slot. If all four divisional series are still being played, that meant a 1:07 start.

But if the Houston Astros eliminated the White Sox with a win on Sunday night, then only three games would need to be packed into Monday, and the Braves-Brewers tilt would start three hours later.

The White Sox won to prolong that series, but it took four hours and 27 minutes, ending well after midnight.

https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1447553943505100800?s=20

Need an Offensive Spark

The Brewers won the opening game of the series, 2-1, then were shut out in game two, meaning Milwaukee has managed just two runs across the two games. After ranking sixth in the NL in scoring and eighth in home runs this season, the Brewers have hit a cold spell. Milwaukee is hitting just 11-for-60 in the two games for a .183 average, 50 points below its regular-season mark.

The Brewers have gotten solid pitching, despite being down two men in the bullpen. Righthander Devin Williams punched a wall in frustration and broke his pitching hand, while lefthander Brent Suter is battling an oblique strain and was left off the roster for the Divisional Series.

The Brewers kept their game three starters under wraps before announcing Sunday afternoon that Freddy Peralta will get the ball. Peralta was 10-5 with a 2.81 ERA this year, but a Cy Young Award-worthy season tailed off late. He had a 4.71 ERA in eight starts since early August and failed to make it through four innings in three straight starts before rebounding late.

The Brewers weren’t sure they were going to start him and had him warming up in the bullpen for a potential relief appearance in the opening game, which was his normal day to throw anyway. He will be making his first postseason appearance ever.

https://twitter.com/Brewers/status/1447573371240202245?s=20

Also, Need an Offensive Spark

Despite scoring twice as many runs as Milwaukee in the series so far, the Braves are also struggling at the plate. Atlanta is actually hitting eight points worse than the Brewers, at 11-for-64, .175. The Braves have had key players step up at key moments, however, Austin Riley is 3-for-8 in the two games and homered in game two. Joc Pederson has come off the bench in both games but has hits in both of his at-bats, including a home run.

The Braves aren’t in the must-win territory, but game three is an important one, since Atlanta may need to resort to a bullpen game for game four, and the Braves bullpen has been a wild affair this season.

Ian Anderson #36 of the Atlanta Braves. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images/AFP

Atlanta will start Ian Anderson in game three. He is 9-5 with a 3.58 ERA this year. He missed close to a month to start the second half and has struggled with consistency since returning. He had more walks than strikeouts in four of his last seven starts to close the season, although he allowed two runs or fewer three times in his last four appearances and went 4-0 down the stretch.

The Pick

Peralta may have better numbers, but down the stretch—basically post-injury for both men—Anderson was the better pitcher. The Braves have the home field and the better pitcher. For your MLB pick, Look for Atlanta to pull ahead in the series.

MLB Pick: (visit our Sportsbook Review)

*The pick reflects the line at the moment the writer made the play, the odds at the beginning of this article show the live line movement. Since the lines might vary, don’t forget to refer back to our live odds.