Mets vs. Nationals Prediction
After starting the season with four consecutive victories, the Washington Nationals are now in the midst of a funk. Losers of four in a row, the Nationals will try to regroup on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball when they wrap up their series against the New York Mets at 8:08 p.m. ET.
Game Snapshot with Current Odds
913 New York Mets (+146) at 914 Washington Nationals (-162); 8 runs
Sunday, April 8, 2018, 8:08 p.m. ET, Nationals Park
TV: ESPN
Public Betting Trends
As of this writing, the Nationals are receiving 51% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks to beat the Mets tonight on the money line. Meanwhile, 54% of the betting tickets wagered on the total are on the under.
New York Mets in position to sweep Nationals in D.C.
The Mets are off to a nice start in 2018. Winners of four straight, the Mets will be looking for their first three-game sweep at Nationals Park since September of 2015. That was the same year New York went on tow in the division and the National League title before falling to the Kansas City Royals in the World Series.
Toeing the rubber tonight for New York will be Matt Harvey, who enjoyed a strong start to 2018 himself. He allowed one hit in five scoreless innings against the Phillies and brings a 3-6 record with a 3.16 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) versus the Nationals in his career. That said, Harvey has struggled the past two seasons versus Washington, going 0-3 with a 7.25 ERA in five games.
Nationals Call Upon Roark to Stop the Bleeding
Tanner Roark will be called upon to halt the Nationals’ losing streak. He went seven innings, allowing just one run, four hits and walking one in a victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night. He is 7-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 17 games (11 starts) against the Mets.
Meanwhile, Bryce Harper is one of the few Nationals players that is hot with the bat. He hammered his fifth home run of the season while Ryan Zimmerman went 0-for-4 and is hitting just .115 on the year. The Nats did steal five bases against the Mets, but guys like Zimmerman couldn’t deliver that big hit on Saturday in a 3-2 loss.
Betting Trends:
New York
The Mets are winless at 0-5 in Harvey’s last five starts versus the Nationals.
Washington
The Nationals have won four of Roark’s last five home starts versus the Mets and are 9-3 in his last 11 outings versus New York overall.
Bet Sunday’s New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals Matchup
Today’s MLB Prediction
It won’t be expensive to back the struggling Nationals on Sunday night but I don’t see them losing their fifth straight. They have been profitable against the Mets with Roark on the mound and he should navigate this New York lineup without allowing too much damage. And while Harvey pitched well in his first game, I don’t trust him yet. He was awful a year ago.
Pick: Washington Nationals -162