Nationals vs. Orioles Monday Prediction
After a successful trip to Miami, the Washington Nationals are starting to heat up. Will they win their fourth consecutive game when they visit the Baltimore Orioles at 1:05 p.m. ET on Monday?
Game Snapshot & Odds
929 Washington Nationals (-135) at 930 Baltimore Orioles (+125); 9 runs
Monday, May 28, 2018
1:05 p.m. ET, Oriole Park at Camden Yards
TV: WSH (MSN2); BAL (MASN)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Nationals as a -135 favorite. As of this writing, 73% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Nationals to beat the Orioles on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Nationals’ Gonzalez solid for seven innings vs. Padres
Gio Gonzalez held the Padres to two runs and two hits over seven innings in a win Monday. Gonzalez has gone 10 straight starts without allowing more than three runs, so he’s on the same kind of pace that he was early last year.
Of some interest is that Nationals manager Dave Martinez is giving him a longer leash of late; he’s throwing 110 pitches in four of his last five starts and never doing so in his first five; he didn’t even top 100 in four of his first five starts. Last year, he threw 110 pitches seven times in 32 starts, with the first time coming on May 19.
Orioles’ Cobb hammered in loss to White Sox
Alex Cobb was hammered in Wednesday’s loss to the White Sox, giving up six runs on eight hits in only 3 2/3 innings of work. The right-hander struck out three and walked two on the night. The big blow against him was a three-run blast by Yoan Moncada during a four-run third inning. Perhaps signing late and missing most of spring training made more of an impact than anticipated.
The 30-year-old hurler is now 1-6 on the season with a miserable 7.32 ERA and unimaginable 1.93 WHIP over 39 1/3 innings in his first eight starts. He shouldn’t be started in any fantasy leagues until he shows some signs of turning this around.
MLB Betting Trends
Washington
The Nationals are winless in Gonzalez’s last five starts versus the Orioles. They’re also just 3-8 in their last 11 games versus the O’s and have dropped 19 of their last 26 in Baltimore.
Baltimore
The under is 11-4 in the last 15 meetings between these two teams when the game is played in Baltimore.
Prediction:
The Nationals receive a ballpark boost playing in Baltimore today and they draw a favorable matchup against Cobb. Oh, and they get to utilize the DH as well. Cobb has been one of the most hittable pitchers in baseball this season and while he does a decent job keeping the ball on the ground, he doesn’t generate strikeouts so the ball is often in play. Gonzalez nibbles a lot and he’ll have to be careful against Manny Machado and Danny Valencia, who have both mashed left-handed pitching this season. Still, this Baltimore lineup struggles with lefties as a whole.
The Pick: Washington Nationals -135