Phillies vs. Braves NLDS Game 2 odds, trends: Bettors heavily backing Atlanta to even series behind Kyle Wright

In the 2021 MLB playoffs, the Atlanta Braves lost Game 1 of their NL Division Series but never would trail in a series again on the way to winning the World Series. Atlanta finds itself down 1-0 in the 2022 NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies and looks to avoid a second straight home loss. First pitch for Game 2 comes at 4:35 p.m. ET from Truist Park. The Braves opened at -125 at BetMGM but are now -145 and taking 85% of the money and 64% of tickets.

For what it's worth, the Braves are 15-5 (.737) in postseason series play when they win Game 1 and 4-17 (.190) when they lose the opener. Philadelphia is now the -145 favorite on the series line with Atlanta at +125, yet the favored exact result is Braves in five at +265.

MLB doesn't have a Most Improved Player Award, but Braves right-hander Kyle Wright would have been the runaway winner this year. He wasn't even guaranteed a starting spot entering spring training. The 27-year-old had a 2-8 career record and a 6.56 ERA but went 21-5 with a 3.19 ERA and 1.16 WHIP this season. He easily led the majors in wins. Wright had completed at least five innings in just five of his 14 prior career starts but became the first Braves pitcher since Russ Ortiz in 2003 to win at least 20 games.

Wright was 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 19 innings this year vs. the Phillies. He is set at over/under 3.5 strikeouts, 4.5 hits allowed and 1.5 earned runs. Bryce Harper is 3-for-9 off him with a homer, and Harper is +450 to go yard today. He's +950 to hit the game's first homer. Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott are expected to be in the Philly lineup after neither started Game 1 against lefty Max Fried.

Should the Phillies pull off the upset again, they would have a chance for the sweep at home behind Aaron Nola in Game 3 on Friday. Today it's Zack Wheeler, who grew up about 20 miles from Truist Park. The 32-year-old was 12-7 with a 2.82 ERA this season. He is 10-7 with a 3.16 ERA in 24 career starts against the Braves and is 2-2 with a 2.78 ERA in five starts in Atlanta since he joined the Phillies in 2020.

Wheeler is set at over/under 4.5 strikeouts, 4.5 hits allowed and 1.5 earned runs. The Atlanta hitter with the best numbers off him is catcher Travis d'Arnaud, who is 7-for-15 with a double and triple. Matt Olson is 2-for-9 for his career off Wheeler and has homered in six of his past eight games overall, including in each of his past four games at Truist Park. He made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth of Game 1 with a three-run shot. Olson is +360 to homer today and +850 to hit the game's first.

The total at BetMGM hasn't moved off 7 runs. A total of 55% of the handle and 54% of the money is on the Over. 

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