The Washington Nationals will be taking on their division rival New York Mets at Citi Field. Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will be televising the matchup and the first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Washington Nationals vs. New York Mets Odds
Oddsmakers have placed matching moneyline odds (-105) on both of these teams. The total sits at 7.5 runs and bettors can wager on the over for -120 and the under for even money (+100). The game’s runline odds stand at +140 for taking the Nationals -1.5 runs and -160 for the Mets +1.5.
The Nationals are 8-9 SU and are 7-10 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 6.5 units for moneyline gamblers in the season’s early going and 3.1 units ATS. Washington is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Mets, on the other hand, are 12-3 SU and 10-5 ATS. The team’s gained 9.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 7.0 units ATS. New York has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Mets games have a 7-8 over/under record so far in 2018. Washington has an over/under record of 8-7-2.
Gio Gonzalez will get the nod for the visiting Nationals. The left-handed Gonzalez is 1-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 20 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with six strikeouts and a 1.69 ERA against New York this year (three starts).
The Mets are putting the ball in the hands of righty Zack Wheeler (1-0, 1.29 ERA), who has seven strikeouts and one walks, as well as a WHIP of 0.43. Wheeler has yet to face the Nationals this year, but he made two starts against them in 2017, putting together a 0-1 record with a 3.86 ERA and 10 strikeouts.
Washington’s pitchers have allowed 4.5 runs per game and its starters own a 3.38 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 10.13 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.85, along with a WHIP of 1.10 and a K-per-9 of 11.32.
The Nationals offense has slashed .235/.341/.394 on its way to 4.4 runs scored per game this season, including 4.1 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Washington’s hitters have been powered by right fielder Bryce Harper and second baseman Howie Kendrick, who’ve collectively launched 10 home runs. Harper is hitting .315/.487/.778 with eight home runs, 17 RBIs and 17 runs scored, while Kendrick has a .309 average with two homers, seven RBIs and five runs scored.
Harper performed well against righty pitching on the road in 2017. Over 176 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .319/.438/.681 (his overall season line was .317/.411/.596).
In the home-team dugout, New York’s pitching staff has yielded 3.4 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 3.38, a WHIP of 1.09 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.9. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.28, a WHIP of 1.21 and a K/9 of 10.6. In nine games against divisional foes, Mets starters have an ERA of 2.81 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.48.
The New York hitters are putting up 4.7 runs per contest, including 5.0 per game against divisional foes and 4.0 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .217/.313/.401 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera and third baseman Todd Frazier have led the Mets’ offense this year. Cabrera is hitting .356/.397/.644 with 21 hits, seven RBIs and 14 runs scored, and Frazier’s line is .313/.453/.542 with 15 hits, 11 RBIs and eight runs.
Compared to his total season slash line of .280/.351/.434, Cabrera didn’t do as well hitting against lefty pitching at home last season, slashing .268/.288/.286 over 59 such plate appearances.
The Nationals have lost 2.1 units and are 6-7 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in seven of those games, compared to five that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Mets have netted 3.5 units and are 3-0 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in one of those games, as opposed to two which went under the total.
Washington Nationals at New York Mets Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Mets, ATS Winner – Mets, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Washington has recorded 19.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 18.2 over its last five.
- The Nationals have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
