Washington Nationals at Baltimore Orioles Free Preview

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The Washington Nationals will be taking on the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. The opening pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will be televising this interleague showdown.

Washington Nationals vs. Baltimore Orioles Odds

Oddsmakers are listing Baltimore (+200) as the underdog to Washington (-220). The total sits at 8.5 runs and bettors can take the over or the under for -110. The games most recent runline odds stand at -150 for taking the Nationals -1.5 runs and +130 for the Orioles +1.5.

The Nationals have gone 31-22 SU this year and are 27-25 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 0.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline, despite having gained 3.1 units ATS. Washington’s covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Orioles, on the other hand, are 17-38 SU and 20-34 ATS. The teams lost 19.2 units for moneyline bettors and 17.6 units ATS. Baltimore has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.

Orioles games have had an over/under record of 24-28-2 so far in 2018. The Nationals have been a decent under bet with a total record of 22-28-2.

Right-hander Max Scherzer is the probable starter for the visiting Nationals. Scherzer is 8-1 with a 2.13 ERA and 108 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Orioles this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-0, 2.25 ERA and 11 strikeouts over eight innings).

The Orioles are turning to righty David Hess (2-1, 4.15 ERA), who has 10 strikeouts and five walks to his credit as well as a WHIP of 1.33. Hess did not accrue any MLB pitching stats in 2017.

Washington’s pitchers have allowed 3.5 runs per game and its starters own a 2.87 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 9.83 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.14, along with a WHIP of 1.06.

Nationals hitters have slashed .243/.328/.416 on their way to 4.5 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.6 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 5.4 per game over the teams last five outings (5-0 SU).

Shortstop Trea Turner and second baseman Howie Kendrick continue to lead Washington’s hitters. Turner is slashing .268/.358/.413 with six home runs, 22 RBIs, 30 runs and 14 stolen bases, while Kendrick has a .303 average with four homers, 12 RBIs and 17 runs scored.

In the other dugout, Baltimore’s pitching staff has allowed 5.4 runs per game overall this year. The clubs starters have a 5.53 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.32 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 8.4 K/9.

The Baltimore offense has put up 3.8 runs per contest, including 2.3 per game over its last 10 games and 1.6 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .222/.272/.309 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.

Shortstop Manny Machado and outfielder Adam Jones have led the Orioles batters this year. Machado is hitting .326/.394/.614 with 16 home runs, 45 RBIs and 30 runs scored, and the line for Jones stands at .282/.298/.468 with nine homers, 26 RBIs and 24 runs.

Compared to his overall season slash line of .260/.311/.473, Machado seemed to enjoy hitting right-handed pitching at home last year, slashing .286/.355/.534 over 265 such plate appearances.

The Nationals have gained 7.5 units and are 19-15 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 16 of those games, as opposed to 17 that’ve hit the under against righties. On the other hand, the Orioles have lost 14.4 units and are 13-22 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 15 of those games, compared to 19 that went under the total.

Washington Nationals vs. Baltimore Orioles Free Prediction

Predictions: SU Winner – Nationals, ATS Winner – Nationals, O/U – UNDER

Betting Notes

  • The Nationals have won seven of their last eight games SU.
  • Baltimore has recorded 18.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 16.0 over its last five.
  • The Nationals have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games, including nine over their last five.