Thursday MLB preview: Nationals at Braves, Mets at Giants

Washington Nationals (50-44) at Atlanta Braves (58-39), 7:20 p.m. ET

Stephen Strasburg (11-4, 3.46 ERA) (WSH) -125 / -1.5 runs (+115) / Over 9.5 runs (EVEN) Julio Teheran (5-6, 3.71 ERA) (ATL) +115 / +1.5 runs (-135) / Under 9.5 runs (-120)

MLB free play: Over

Two teams playing solid baseball in July, the Nationals (8-3 this month) and the Braves (8-4), meet at Georgia's hitter-friendly SunTrust Park on Thursday night. This looks like a prime opportunity for Over bettors.

Stephen Strasburg will start for Washington, and several Braves batters have good numbers against him, including first baseman Freddie Freeman (18-for-53, four home runs), but he is slumping in July (.182 average). Fortunately for Atlanta right fielder Nick Markakis (.349 average in July) and third baseman Josh Donaldson (1.256 OPS in July) have picked up the slack. They've tallied 14 combined hits against Strasburg in 47 prior at-bats (.298).

Julio Teheran will counter for the Braves, and he has an uninspiring 4.72 ERA in his last 10 starts against the Nationals. Second baseman Trea Turner is 7-for-15 (.467) against the Colombia native. Outfielder Adam Eaton is 2-for-8 against Teheran but is swinging a hot bat at the moment (11-for-31 at the dish since July 5).

The bullpens should do their share for Over bettors. Atlanta's relief corps has a 7.85 ERA in the last week, while Washington's relievers have produced a 4.73 ERA.

New York Mets (44-51) at San Francisco Giants (47-49), 9:45 p.m. ET

Noah Syndergaard (7-4, 4.55 ERA) (NYM) EVEN / -1.5 runs (+165) / Over 7 runs (-125) Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 3.86 ERA) (SF) -110 / +1.5 runs (-200) / Under 7 runs (+105)

MLB free play: Giants moneyline

The suddenly surging Giants, 11-2 in the month of July, should chalk up another victory Thursday night, as the mediocre Mets visit Oracle Park.

San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner has a 2.88 ERA in his last four starts (25 innings) against New York. He's surrendered just three earned runs in his last four efforts (20 innings).

Mets starter Noah Syndergaard will draw a tough matchup with a Giants order that's tops in the majors by batting average this month (.304). Left fielder Alex Dickerson and catcher Buster Posey are both seeing the ball well in July. They've combined for 27 hits and four home runs in their last 66 at-bats (.409).

The Mets will be in even more trouble when they're forced to tap into their 28th-rated bullpen by ERA. The Giants' relief corps is sixth in the same department.