St. Louis Cardinals at Washington Nationals Free Pick

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The St. Louis Cardinals will head east to play the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. The opening pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Midwest will broadcast this NL showdown.

St. Louis Cardinals at Washington Nationals Odds

Vegas is listing St. Louis (+135) as the underdog to Washington (-145). If you think the game’s total will go under 8 runs, Vegas is currently offering -110 odds. Playing the over will return -110 odds. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds sitting at Cardinals +1.5 runs (-160) and Nationals -1.5 runs (+140).

The Nationals are 12-14 straight up (SU) and 10-15 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 8.6 units for moneyline bettors and 6.3 units ATS. The Cardinals are 17-10 SU and have gone 16-10 against the spread. In total, the team’s accumulated 4.7 units for moneyline bettors over the early portions of the year and 6.9 units ATS.

Washington games have had an over/under record of 15-9-1 so far in 2019. The Cardinals have also been a decent over bet with a total record of 15-8-3.

The right-handed Michael Wacha is getting the start for the visiting Cardinals. Wacha is 1-0 with a 4.64 ERA and 24 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Nationals this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.

The Nationals are going with lefty Patrick Corbin (2-0, 2.48 ERA), who has 39 strikeouts and six walks to his name, along with a WHIP of 0.92. Corbin only made one start against the Cardinals in 2018 (0-0, 1.50 ERA and six strikeouts across six innings).

Washington’s pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has a 4.20 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 6.57 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 9.5 K/9.

The Washington hitters are putting up 5.3 runs per outing, including 4.3 per game over its last 10 games and 4.8 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .250/.319/.431 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.

The Nationals’ batters have been led by right fielder Adam Eaton and third baseman Anthony Rendon. Eaton is hitting .295/.362/.381 with 31 hits, six RBIs and 17 runs scored, and Rendon’s line is .356/.442/.740 with six homers, 18 RBIs and 21 runs.

In the other dugout, St. Louis’ pitching staff allowed 4.5 runs per game and its starters own a 4.64 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 8.18 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.95, along with a WHIP of 1.42.

Cardinals hitters have slashed .269/.351/.460 on their way to 5.5 runs scored per game in 2019, including 6.0 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).

St. Louis’ offensive production has been fueled by shortstop Paul DeJong and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who’ve collectively belted 14 home runs. DeJong is slashing .342/.392/.604 with five home runs, 13 RBIs and 24 runs scored, while Goldschmidt is slashing .274/.369/.557 with nine homers, 19 RBIs and 21 runs scored.

The Cardinals have lost 1.3 units and are 2-2 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in one of those games, compared to two that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Nationals have lost 2.7 units and are 9-10 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 12 of those games, compared to seven that went under the total.

Cardinals vs. Nationals MLB Prediction

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

Betting Notes

  • The under has hit in only two of St. Louis’ last seven games.
  • The Cardinals have an OPS of .811 this season, including an OPS of .710 against left-handed pitchers. The Nationals’ OPS sits at .787 overall and .854 against southpaws.
  • The Cardinals have won seven of their last eight games SU.
  • St. Louis has recorded 27.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 22.2 over its last five.
  • The Cardinals have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games. The Nationals have hit 15 over their last 10.