Nationals vs. Pirates Thursday Prediction
Max Scherzer will return to the mound for the Nationals on Thursday night but is Washington a sure thing to cash for bettors against Pittsburgh? These two teams will wrap up their series at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Game Snapshot & Odds
953 Washington Nationals (-242) at 902 Pittsburgh Pirates (+184); 8.5 runs
Thursday, August 22, 2019
7:05 p.m. ET, PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
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Public Betting Trends
According to our MLB Public Betting Chart page, 73% of the betting tickets are on the Nationals to beat the Pirates on the moneyline.
Washington Nationals Fantasy Spin
Anthony Rendon went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored in an 11-1 thrashing of the Pirates on Wednesday. He punched a two-RBI single in the third inning as the Nationals scored six times in the frame. The knock helped Rendon reach the 100 RBI plateau for the second time in his career and matches his career high with five weeks remaining in the season. Rendon is perhaps the steadiest but least flashy of the elite fantasy hitters. This will be the third consecutive season that Rendon has hit .300 or better, which is a rare feat in today’s game. He currently rocks a .323/.402/.607 stat line with 27 home runs, 100 RBI, 90 runs and three steals in 112 games.
Pittsburgh Pirates Fantasy Spin
Bryan Reynolds went 2-for-4 and scored the Pirates’ only run of the game in a loss to the Nationals on Wednesday. His squad was getting blown out in the ninth inning when Reynolds led off the frame with a single and came around to score on a Josh Bell double. All that did was avert a shutout in yet another loss for the reeling Pirates. The Pirates had just five hits and two came off the bat of Reynolds. He is having a very impressive rookie season, slashing .325/.397/.517 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI and 66 runs scored in 102 games.
MLB Betting Trends
Washington
The Nationals are 7-1 in Scherzer’s last eight starts.
Pittsburgh
The Pirates have dropped four of Stephen Brault’s last five outings at PNC Park.
Prediction:
For one reason or another, the Nationals have not had much prior success against the Pirates when Scherzer starts. They’re 1-4 in his last five outings against Pittsburgh and have also dropped four of Scherzer’s last five outings versus opponents from the National League Central. The Pirates have been in a massive tailspin for weeks, but I like their runline value tonight.
The Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 (+115)
