Nationals vs. Marlins Prediction
The Washington Nationals have a narrow lead in the NL Wild Card race with 11 games left to play in their season. Is Washington going to open its series tonight with a win at the Miami Marlins as road favorites?
Game Snapshot
905 Washington Nationals at 906 Miami Marlins
Friday, September 20, 2019
Marlins Park at 7:10PM ET
TV: FS-F
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Nationals are a -190 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Marlins are a +180 underdog, while the total is set at 8.5 runs. As of Friday morning, 81 percent of public betting trends are being placed on visiting Washington. Check out our MLB Public Betting Page for the latest updates.
Nats held to one run
Washington lost by a score of 5-1 Wednesday afternoon at St. Louis to drop to 83-68 overall and 41-37 on the road. Yan Gomes helped lead the Nationals offensively as he finished 3-for-4 with a run scored. Trea Turner went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Howie Kendrick ended the contest 2-for-4. Max Scherzer suffered the loss as he allowed five earned runs on seven hits with 11 strikeouts and no walks over 6 2/3 innings. Anibal Sanchez draws the start tonight as he enters with a 9-8 record, 3.86 ERA and 1.29 WHIP plus 126 strikeouts over 154 innings.
Marlins edged by D-backs
Miami fell by a 5-4 score at Arizona Wednesday afternoon to drop to 53-99 overall and 24-50 overall. Starlin Castro led the Marlins offense as he went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, two doubles and two runs scored. Austin Dean finished 1-for-4 with a solo homer. Harold Ramirez ended the game 1-for-3 with an RBI. Sandy Alcantara took the loss as he gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks over 5 2/3 innings. Elieser Hernandez gets the start tonight for Miami as he comes in with a 3-5 record, 5.03 ERA and 1.24 WHIP plus 85 strikeouts over 82 1/3 innings pitched.
MLB Betting Trends
Washington
The Nationals are 4-1 in the last five Sanchez road starts. Washington is 0-5 in its last five series openers.
Miami
The Marlins are 1-5 in their last six Friday games. Miami is 14-37 in its last 51 games overall.
Prediction:
Sanchez has been an efficient starter for the Nats and while the Marlins have been respectably competitive this season considering their utter lack of talent on the MLB roster, I’m going to side with the team that is playing for something. Washington had a day off before traveling so fatigue shouldn’t be too bad of an issue. Hernandez might keep the Marlins in it for a while, but look for the Nationals to eventually take over in the middle and latter part of the game.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: WASHINGTON NATIONALS -190