Nationals vs. Cardinals Monday Prediction
The Washington Nationals are in the driver’s seat for home-field advantage in the NL Wild Card Game with 14 games left in their regular season. Can Washington get a win today over a host St. Louis Cardinals team in a tight division race of its own?
Game Snapshot
903 Washington Nationals at 904 St. Louis Cardinals
Monday, September 16, 2019
Busch Stadium at 7:45PM ET
TV: MLB Network
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Nationals are a -135 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Brewers are a +125 underdog, while the total sits at 8 runs. As of Monday morning, 55 percent of public bets are being placed on host St. Louis. Check out our MLB Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Nats shut down Braves
Washington avoided a home sweep Sunday afternoon as it downed first-place Atlanta by a count of 7-0. Anibal Sanchez threw seven shutout innings to pick up the win as he allowed three hits with three strikeouts and one walk over seven innings. Howie Kendrick led the Nationals offense as he finished 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. Victor Robles was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two runs and an RBI. Yan Gomes ended the game 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Stephen Strasburg takes the mound tonight as he enters with a 17-6 record, 3.49 ERA and 1.05 WHIP plus 229 strikeouts over 191 innings.
Cardinals blow it in ninth
St. Louis gave up a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the ninth and could not rally back all the way in the bottom half Sunday afternoon in a 7-6 home loss against Milwaukee. John Gant took the loss in relief as he surrendered three earned runs on no hits with one strikeout and three walks over one-third of an inning. Harrison Bader led the Cardinals offense as he went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs. Paul DeJong and Tommy Edman each finished 1-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs. Dakota Hudson draws the start tonight for St. Louis as he comes in with a 15-7 record, 3.38 ERA and 1.41 WHIP plus 123 strikeouts across 159 2/3 innings of work.
MLB Betting Trends
Washington
The Nationals are 5-1 in their last six Monday games. Washington is 5-0 in the last five Strasburg Monday starts.
St. Louis
The Cardinals are 25-11 in their last 36 games overall. St. Louis is 5-0 in the last five Hudson home starts.
Prediction:
This should be a fun game to watch, but with the Nationals having other teams breathe down their neck in the NL Wild Card race makes me trust Strasburg that much more here. He’s been pitching well basically all season aside from a couple hiccups and I like that to continue. Hudson has benefited from a pitcher’s park, but I think the strong Nationals offense gets to him for a few runs here and supports Strasburg enough en route to the win.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: BALTIMORE ORIOLES -120