The Milwaukee Brewers were the class of the National League Central during the 2021 MLB season, winning their second division title in four years, but finished the campaign with a four-game losing streak. The Atlanta Braves (88-73) won 12 of their final 14 contests en route to their 16th overall NL East crown and fourth in a row. Milwaukee (95-67) hopes to halt both trends when it hosts Atlanta for Game 1 of the 2021 NL Division Series on Friday. The Braves won the first two games of the season between the clubs at Milwaukee in May but dropped the series finale and lost two of three at home from July 30-Aug. 1.
First pitch at American Family Field is scheduled for 4:37 p.m. ET. Corbin Burnes (11-5, 2.43 ERA) will start for Milwaukee and be opposed by fellow right-hander Charlie Morton (14-6, 3.34). Milwaukee is the -153 favorite (risk $153 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Brewers vs. Braves odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total runs scored is seven. Before making any Braves vs. Brewers picks, you need to see what SportsLine expert Micah Roberts has to say.
Roberts has worked in the Las Vegas sportsbook industry for 20-plus years, including a 13-year run as Station Casinos' book director. Armed with an elaborate network of sources, he has unmatched info in multiple sports.
Roberts has his finger on the pulse of the Brewers as he is 43-29-1 in his last 72 MLB picks involving the Brewers, returning well over $1,000. Anyone who has followed his picks has seen huge returns.
Now, Roberts has dialed in on Braves vs. Brewers and just released his coveted 2021 NLDS Game 1 picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the MLB odds and betting lines for Brewers vs. Braves:
- Brewers vs. Braves money line: Milwaukee -153, Atlanta +143
- Brewers vs. Braves run line: Milwaukee -1.5 (+145)
- Brewers vs. Braves over-under: 7 runs
- MIL: The Brewers are 5-0 in their last five NLDS home games
- ATL: The Braves are 7-0 in their last seven contests against teams with winning records
Why you should back the Brewers
Prior to a two-inning outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his season finale last Saturday, Burnes won nine consecutive decisions after losing to San Diego on May 25. Including the loss at Los Angeles, the 26-year-old has allowed three runs or fewer in six straight starts and nine of his last 10. Burnes led the major leagues with a 2.43 ERA and was second with a 0.94 WHIP.
Avisail Garcia had a career year at the plate in 2021, leading the Brewers with 29 home runs and 86 RBIs. The 30-year-old Venezuelan outfielder fared well against the Braves this season as he went 7-for-19 with two blasts and five RBIs in five contests. Luis Urias also put up career numbers with 23 homers and 75 RBIs while Willy Adames, who totaled personal bests of 25 blasts and 73 RBIs, recorded 20 and 58, respectively, in 99 games after being acquired from Tampa Bay in May.
Why you should back the Braves
Morton is a seasoned playoff performer with a 7-3 record and 3.38 ERA in 13 career postseason games, 12 of which were starts. The 37-year-old was among the top starters in the NL this year, tying for fifth in wins, sixth in strikeouts (216) and seventh in WHIP (1.04). Morton suffered a hard-luck loss in his only turn of the season against Milwaukee on Aug. 1 despite allowing only two runs and three hits over six innings.
In his third major-league season, Austin Riley topped the Braves with a .303 batting average, 33 home runs and 107 RBIs -- all career bests. The 24-year-old third baseman finished second in the NL in the latter category behind current teammate Adam Duvall, who led the senior circuit with a career-high 113 RBI as he recorded 45 in 55 games after being acquired from Miami at the end of July. Riley was especially dangerous at the plate in the second half of the season, when he batted .333 with 19 homers, 65 RBIs and a .976 OPS.
How to make Braves vs. Brewers picks
Roberts is leaning under on the run total and he has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the money line. He's sharing his MLB picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Brewers vs. Braves in the 2021 NLDS Game 1? And what critical X-factor makes one side of the money line a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the money line to jump on, all from the MLB expert who has crushed his Milwaukee picks, and find out.
