Braves vs. Nationals Wednesday MLB injury report, odds: Juan Soto expected back in lineup for Washington

The Atlanta Braves caught a bit of a break on Tuesday when they beat the Washington Nationals 10-4 for their 13th straight victory as the Nats' best player, outfielder Juan Soto, was given the night off after banging his knee on Monday. Soto is expected back in the lineup tonight as the teams close out their three-game set in D.C. Atlanta is a -185 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook.

Soto left Monday's series opener with right knee soreness after bumping into a dugout bench and the team played it safe by sitting him Tuesday. The 2021 NL MVP runner-up had played in every other game this season. Soto actually opened this year as the NL MVP favorite (now a +4000 longer shot) but has had a moderately disappointing season, batting .228 with 13 homers and 28 RBI. Soto is +430 at Caesars to homer tonight.

There's still talk the Nationals might deal him by the trade deadline as Soto turned down a $350 million extension in the offseason and appears determined to test free agency after the 2024 season. The longer the Nationals wait to deal him, they less they likely would get. One book actually offered odds on where Soto would be after this year's Trade Deadline. That he's still with Washington was a sizable favorite, but the San Francisco Giants were second on the list. Washington GM Mike Rizzo has categorically denied that he will trade Soto, but speculation persists. 

Atlanta's 13-game winning streak is the longest in the majors this season, the team's longest since the 2013 club won 14 in a row and tied for the third longest in the franchise's modern era (since 1900). The 2000 Braves won 15 straight to set the franchise's modern era record. The Braves are still five games behind the Mets in the NL East and lost second baseman Ozzie Albies for at least two months to a broken foot suffered Monday.

Spencer Strider (2-2, 2.35 ERA) is on the mound for Atlanta. He pitched in relief vs. Washington on April 11, allowing one run on three hits over 3.1 innings. Soto is 1-for-2 off him. The Nationals start Erick Feede (4-4, 4.87 ERA). He hasn't faced the Braves this year. 

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