Nationals vs. Braves – Preview
Wednesday, 12:15pm ET • TruistPark
Our Pick: Braves Moneyline

The Braves host the Nationals for a getaway-day matinee at Truist Park (12:15 p.m. ET) with Bryce Elder slated to face lefty Andrew Alvarez. Elder enters at 8–10 with a 5.36 ERA and 124 K, while Alvarez is 1–1 with a 2.84 ERA. 

Form and context both tilt this matchup toward Atlanta on the moneyline. The Braves have ripped off 10 straight wins and are 10–0 over their last 10, while Washington is 3–7 across its last 10. In the NL East table, Atlanta sits at 75–83 (38–39 at home); Washington is 64–94 (33–47 on the road). 

Head-to-head has been one-way traffic in 2025: after Tuesday’s 3–2 Atlanta win, Washington has dropped nine of 12 to the Braves this season. That dominance matters in a quick-turn series finale where familiarity favors the deeper club. 

The pitching matchup is also workable for Atlanta. Elder’s volatility is real, but he’s coming off his best outing of September—7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 K in a 10–1 win at Detroit—which is exactly the kind of sequencing you want heading home on short rest. Alvarez has flashed good early results in a small MLB sample, but the rookie has just been in the bigs since Sept. 1 and is still navigating lineups a second time through. 

Markets reflect the same lean: as of this morning, DraftKings lists Atlanta around −190 to −194 on the moneyline (Washington +157 to +158), consistent with a clear but not overwhelming edge. 

Bottom line: Atlanta’s combination of blistering current form, a strong season series edge, home-field competence, and a veteran starter coming off a sharp tune-up makes the Braves the right side on the moneyline today. If Elder limits free passes and hard contact early, Atlanta’s bullpen—steady during the streak—should have enough to bring it home again. 

Projected edge: Braves moneyline.