Nationals vs. Pirates Tuesday Prediction
The Nationals smoked the Pirates in the series opener on Monday night and things don’t get any easier for Pittsburgh tonight at 7:05 p.m. ET. With Stephen Strasburg toeing the rubber, are the Nationals a safe play for bettors?
Game Snapshot & Odds
951 Washington Nationals (-156) at 952 Pittsburgh Pirates (+135); 8.5 runs
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
7:05 p.m. ET, PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Compare odds from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new Baseball Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Trends
According to our MLB Public Betting Chart page, 80% of the betting tickets are on the Nationals to beat the Pirates on the moneyline.
Washington Nationals Fantasy Spin
Juan Soto finished 4-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and four runs scored in Monday’s rout. Soto’s incredible stretch has seen him go 15-for-37 with seven homers, 11 RBI, 14 runs scored, six walks and three steals in his last nine games. He has a 98/78 K/BB ratio through 499 PA this year, which is an almost perfect match for his 99/79 K/BB ratio in 494 PA as a rookie.
Pittsburgh Pirates Fantasy Spin
Jacob Stallings (headache) returned to the Pirates’ starting lineup on Sunday, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout in a losing effort against the Cubs. Stallings was scratched from the Pirates’ starting lineup on Wednesday due to a migraine headache after he was clipped by Kole Calhoun’s elbow during Tuesday’s game. The 29-year-old is hitting .265/.331/.407 with four homers and nine RBI in his first 124 plate appearances at the big league level this season.
MLB Betting Trends
Washington
The Nationals are 7-1 in their last eight games overall.
Pittsburgh
The Pirates have now dropped 22 of their last 27 games overall.
Prediction:
The Nationals are a perfect 4-0 in Strasburg’s last four starts versus the Pirates and are 82-32 in his last 114 outings overall. They’re also 39-12 in Strasburg’s last 51 road starts, are 17-4 in his last 21 starts versus National League Central opponents and are 22-7 in their last 92 road outings versus an opponent with a losing record. The Pirates, meanwhile, are 5-16 in their last 21 home games and are 17-35 in their last 52 games coming off a loss.
The Pick: Washington Nationals -156