Braves vs. Yankees Prediction, MLB Picks for Sunday, August 9

The Atlanta Braves (70-47) vs. the New York Yankees (66-51) is set for 1:35 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 9, with the Yankees returning a 1.63x payout to win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.

Although New York is going for the sweep, this has been an exciting series. Friday’s game went into extra innings, with Yankees 3B Ryan McMahon hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly. Saturday’s matchup was another close one, with two lead changes and most of the game sitting as a 1-run contest.

In Sunday's series finale, both teams will lean on young, up-and-coming starters, as the Braves try to salvage one win in the Bronx.

Below, we'll break down our Braves vs. Yankees prediction and picks for Sunday’s MLB matchup, including the run line, over/under, and key player picks for PrizePicks.

Make your Braves vs. Yankees prediction on PrizePicks now!

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Braves vs. Yankees Prediction, Winner Payout, Over/Under – Sunday, August 9

The Braves will feature SP Grant Holmes (4.53 xFIP in 108.0 IP, 22 appearances, 21 starts) in the series finale.

Today will be a new benchmark for Holmes, as he makes his 22nd start of the season, setting a new career high. He’s been better compared to his 3.99 ERA and 1.4 WAR last season, proven by 2026's 3.56 ERA and 1.7 WAR.

During his 2024 rookie season, his four-seamer was his dominant pitch, thrown 37.3% of the time, while the slider had a 32.3% usage rate. That has flipped, as this year he’s throwing his slider on 36.2% of his pitches and the four-seamer on 29.7%. Opposing batters are having trouble picking up the slider, with a 39.4% whiff rate.

The Braves are enjoying a rebound season after finishing fourth in the National League East with a 76-86 record last year. Their 8.5-game lead in the NL East is tied with the Dodgers for the largest cushion among division leaders. 

With the Braves sporting a strong chance to make the playoffs, it’s surprising they were relatively quiet at the trade deadline, with their most notable pickup being Giants SP Tyler Mahle, who has a 4.83 ERA.

The Yankees will counter with their young phenom, SP Cam Schlittler (2.90 xFIP in 139.2 IP, 24 starts).

For most of the season, it looked like Schlittler was going to run away with the American League Cy Young, but he’s currently in a rough stretch. Since June 30, he has a 3.86 ERA and is allowing a 12.8% barrel rate over seven starts. During the same period, Blue Jays SP Dylan Cease has a 0.84 ERA, giving him the shortest payout to win the AL Cy Young (1.75x) on PrizePicks Team Picks.

The Yankees needed to make some moves to improve the offense, and they did just that. New York traded for Nationals 1B Luis Garcia Jr., and he’s been excellent, posting an .820 OPS with the Yankees. The Yanks also called up top prospect SS George Lombard Jr., who has breathed life into the lineup, with a .385 BA and 1.346 OPS.

New York needs as much offensive help as possible with RF Aaron Judge recovering from a fractured rib. The club is hoping he returns at some point this year, but that is not a guarantee. The good news is that LF Cody Bellinger could be close to returning from his hamstring injury, as he is now taking batting practice.

Braves vs. Yankees Winner Payout, Over/Under – Sunday, August 9

The Yankees enter Sunday’s game as home favorites, returning a 1.63x payout if they win outright, via PrizePicks Team Picks.

Here are the full payouts for the Braves vs. Yankees game on PrizePicks.

Make your Braves vs. Yankees prediction on the spread or over/under on PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money — available in 36 states!

Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.

Braves vs. Yankees Prediction on Spread – 8/9/26

Here are the key game stats and trends behind our Braves vs. Yankees prediction on the run line for Sunday, August 9.

Data used in this article is from Baseball Savant or FanGraphs.

• Schlitter is excellent at getting batters to swing at pitches outside the zone with a 34.6% chase rate that ranks in the 87th percentile. The Braves lack plate discipline, as their 33.5% chase rate sits 28th in the league.
• Holmes is allowing a 42.5% hard-hit rate, which ranks in the 22nd percentile. The Yankees are a lineup that can crush the ball, with a 41.3% hard-hit rate that ranks third in baseball.
• The Braves have lost Holmes’ last two road starts against teams with winning records.
• Dan Bellino is the home plate umpire for this game. Holmes has a 4.50 ERA in two starts when Bellino is behind the dish.
• The Yankees will take the free pass, as their 9.9% walk rate is the fourth-best in baseball. Holmes is allowing a 9.9% walk rate that is in the 30th percentile.

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Braves vs. Yankees Picks, Player Stats for PrizePicks – 8/9/26

Here are the top Braves vs. Yankees picks to target on PrizePicks for Sunday, August 9. Today’s MLB picks for PrizePicks include Matt Olson and Luis Garcia Jr.

Braves 1B Matt Olson vs. Yankees: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs

• The Braves’ first baseman has been among the hottest hitters in August, with his .612 wOBA this month leading the league and his .830 xSLG ranking third.
• Olson is one of the best power hitters in baseball, with his 50.5% hard-hit rate ranking in the 92nd percentile. That’s an area where Schlitter struggles, as he’s allowing a 39.3% hard-hit rate that is in the 45th percentile.
• Opposing left-handed hitters have taken advantage of the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium against Schlittler, who is allowing a 13.5% HR/FB rate to lefties at home. That’s good news for the left-handed hitting Olson, whose 33 home runs are the second-most in the league.
• Schlittler throws the four-seamer on 50% of his pitches to left-handed hitters. Olson hits well against four-seamers, posting a .376 wOBA and an absurd 67.1% hard-hit rate.

Add Matt Olson to your PrizePicks Lineup now.

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Yankees 1B Luis Garcia Jr. vs. Braves: 5.5 Hitter Fantasy Score

• Garcia Jr. has been a great addition to the Yankees lineup since coming over from the Nationals, recording a hit in three of his first four games with the team.
• The Yankees’ first baseman has enjoyed success against Holmes, going 4 for 10 with 2 doubles and a home run.
• Garcia Jr. touts a .289 xBA, which ranks in the 95th percentile. That’s a significant advantage over Holmes, who’s allowing a .250 xBA that only ranks in the 38th percentile.
• Left-handed batters have better power against Holmes compared to right-handed hitters, with lefties having a 17.1% HR/FB rate compared to 10.5% against righties. This could benefit the left-handed Garcia Jr., whose 24 home runs are a career high.  

Add Luis Garcia Jr. to your PrizePicks Lineup now.

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The Yankees want to pull out the broom on the Braves, and that will rest on the shoulders of Cam Schlittler. The Braves answer with their young starter, Grant Holmes, as they try to get at least one win in this series.

Don’t wait until the first pitch happens — make your Braves vs. Yankees picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right.

Pick players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 36 states.

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