The Washington Nationals will head west to Dodger Stadium to face the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will showcase this NL showdown and the game gets going at 10:10 p.m. ET.
Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers Odds
Vegas has listed Washington (+125) as the dog to Los Angeles (-135). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at +110 for over 6.5 runs and -130 for under 6.5. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the runline odds standing at Nationals +1.5 runs (-170) and Dodgers +-1.5 runs (+150).
The Nationals have gone 9-10 SU this year and are 8-11 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 6.5 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season and 4.0 units ATS. Washington is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Dodgers, on the other hand, are 8-9 SU and 7-10 ATS. They’ve lost 6.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 3.1 units ATS. Los Angeles has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has cashed in all seven of them.
Dodgers games have a 10-7 over/under record so far in 2018. Washington has an over/under record of 9-8-2.
Right-hander Max Scherzer will get the start for Washington. Scherzer is 3-1 with a 1.33 ERA and 38 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Dodgers this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (1-0, 0.00 ERA and 14 strikeouts across seven innings).
The Dodgers are putting the ball in the left hand of Clayton Kershaw (1-2, 1.73 ERA, 0.88 WHIP), who’s got 31 strikeouts and three walks this season. Kershaw only made one start against the Nationals in 2017 (1-0, 1.29 ERA and nine strikeouts across seven innings).
Los Angeles’ pitchers have allowed 4.2 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The club’s starting pitching staff has a 3.48 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.04 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 9.7 K/9.
Los Angeles’ hitters are putting up 4.9 runs per contest, including 6.2 per game over its last 10 games and 7.6 per game over their last five. The team has hit .276/.362/.443 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Catcher Yasmani Grandal and outfielder Matt Kemp have led the Dodgers’ hitters this year. Grandal is hitting .352/.435/.611 with three home runs, 13 RBIs and nine runs scored, and Kemp’s line sits at .347/.389/.592 with three homers, 10 RBIs and seven runs.
For the visiting squad, Washington’s pitchers have allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.33 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 9.90 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.82, along with a K/9 of 11.64.
The Nationals offense has slashed .235/.337/.394 on its way to 4.5 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.0 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Washington’s hitters have been led by right fielder Bryce Harper and second baseman Howie Kendrick, who’ve collectively swatted 10 home runs. Harper is hitting .288/.471/.712 with eight home runs, 18 RBIs and 18 runs scored, while Kendrick is hitting .302/.333/.492 with two homers, seven RBIs and six runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .317/.411/.596, Harper seemed to take a step back when hitting left-handed pitching in 2017, putting up a slash line of .311/.357/.445 across 129 plate appearances.
The Nationals have lost 5.3 units and are 1-4 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in two of those games, as opposed to two that’ve hit the under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Dodgers have lost 6.5 units and are 4-7 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in nine of those games, as opposed to two that’ve cashed the under.
Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Dodgers, ATS Winner – Nationals, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Washington has recorded 18.8 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 22.6 over its last five.
- The Nationals have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
