Nationals vs. Padres Pick
Are the Washington Nationals going to make it three wins in a row over the host San Diego Padres? First pitch is at 8:40PM EST.
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Nationals are a -168 favorite to win. The Padres are a +151 underdog, while the over-under is set at 8.
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Starting for Washington will be Stephen Strasburg (10-3, 3.25 ERA), while San Diego will go with Travis Wood (2-4, 6.46 ERA). This is Strasburg’s first start back from an injury he suffered July 23 at Arizona, forcing him out after two scoreless innings. Prior to the injury, he had been strong in four of his last five starts if you include the two scoreless frames he threw against the D-backs. He has struck out 141 batters in 121 innings and carries a WHIP of 1.12. He is likely on a pitch count in his return to action. Wood was acquired from the Royals last month and his fours starts with the Padres have had mixed results. The Padres have gone 2-2 in his starts, with Wood allowing nine earned runs in 10 innings during the two losses. Conversely, he has given up four earned runs over 11 innings in the two wins. He gives up a lot of hits and sports a 1.69 WHIP, so working out of trouble will be his key to longevity in this game.
Washington enters with a 73-47 record and is 38-23 on the road, while is 54-68 with a 32-29 home record. The Nationals won the first two games of the series by 2-1 and 7-1 finals, while they also have won four out of five in the season series.
The Nationals cruised Friday despite Cy Young Award favorite Max Scherzer being scratched with a sore neck and placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career. Matt Grace threw 4 1/3 innings of shutout baseball in his place, while Joe Blanton picked up the win in relief. Howie Kendrick paced the Washington offense by going 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs, leading off the game with a home run. Dusty Coleman accounted for the lone Padres run via a home run in the fifth inning, while Luis Perdomo gave up five runs (three earned) in six innings to take the loss.
Strasburg will likely show some run in his first start back and eventually will give way to the shaky Nationals bullpen. On the other side, Wood simply isn’t good enough to fool the Nationals. This game should reach eight runs and beyond.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: NATIONALS/PADRES OVER 8