The Philadelphia Phillies’ stock is back on the upswing!

The Phils’ Thursday night win over the Atlanta Braves was their fifth triumph in the last six games. They are a -142 favorite on Friday night to continue that run, and extend their National League East lead, against the Atlanta Braves. Ranger Suarez is next up for the Phillies on the mound and we can use Cristopher Sanchez’s outing on Thursday as a baseline for what to expect from Ranger.

Sanchez scattered seven hits, gave up four runs and struck out eight batters over six innings. The strikeout total is the significant number to look at for Suarez. The Braves have struggled with strikeouts over the last month or so without three stars in their lineup. Mix that in with Suarez’s two seven-strikeout outings already this season against the Braves and you have the perfect concoction to bet on Suarez.

Suarez’s strikeout prop sits at over/under 4.5 on NJ sports betting apps. The over seems like a hammer spot, if there ever was one, because of the Braves’ struggles at the plate. Suarez recorded at least six strikeouts in three of his last four appearances, and as I already noted, he produced seven Ks against the Braves earlier this season when they weren’t totally depleted in the order.

In the last four Phillies-Braves games, the Phillies starter recorded eight Ks. Sanchez did it twice and Zack Wheeler also hit that total last week in Georgia. Aaron Nola had five Ks last week, but even if Suarez reaches that number, he’ll hit the over on his strikeout prop.


Atlanta is so susceptible to strikeouts because the depth options it has at the back end of the order just aren’t good enough with Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies, and Austin Riley out injured. Ramon Laureano, Sean Murphy and Orlando Arcia and whomever starts at third between Gio Urshela and Luke Williams are high K targets. In fact, Laureano struck out multiple times in each of the last four Braves-Phillies games.

Some sort of strikeout ladder for Suarez could work in your favor. That might be the betting strategy to apply with Wheeler on Saturday as well until the Braves prove they can fix their strikeout issues.

Suarez’s strikeout potential combined with Reynaldo Lopez’s incredible form make this a game for the under to be targeted as well. Lopez allowed two earned runs across his last three starts. At minimum, the first five innings under should be in play because of the two starters. The Phillies proved on Thursday they can rally back against the Braves bullpen, and if they can do the same on Friday, or chip away at Lopez for five-to-six innings, they will extend the NL East advantage to seven games.