Washington Nationals at Tampa Bay Rays Free Pick

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The Washington Nationals will head south to take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The game gets underway 7:10 p.m. ET and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will televise this interleague matchup.

Washington Nationals at Tampa Bay Rays Odds

Oddsmakers are listing Washington (+105) as the underdog to Tampa Bay (-115). Bettors can wager on the games total with odds sitting at +100 for over 7.5 runs and -120 for under 7.5. Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the runline odds sitting at -200 for the Nationals +1.5 runs and +170 for the Rays -1.5.

The Rays are 37-40 straight up (SU) and 42-34 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 2.2e-15 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 6.8 units (ATS). Tampa Bay has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in six of those seven. The Nationals are 41-35 SU and have gone 37-38 ATS. In total, the teams lost 9.3 units for moneyline bettors and 2.6 units ATS. Washington has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.

Tampa Bay games have had an over/under record of 32-42-2 so far in 2018. Washington has also been a decent under bet with a total record of 29-44-2.

Gio Gonzalez will get the nod for Washington. The left-handed Gonzalez is 6-4 with a 3.08 ERA and 80 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rays this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.

The Rays are putting the ball in the hands of lefty Blake Snell (9-4, 2.48 ERA), who’s got 103 punchouts and 36 walks to his credit, as well as a 1.06 WHIP. Snell did not record a start against the Nationals in 2017.

Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has given up 4.0 runs per game overall this season as a unit. The teams starting pitching staff has a 4.03 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.61 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.3 K/9.

Tampa Bay’s offense is putting up 3.9 runs per contest, including 2.7 per game over its last 10 games and 3.2 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .240/.323/.404 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.

Third baseman Matt Duffy and catcher Wilson Ramos have led the Rays hitters this year. Duffy is hitting .318/.364/.438 with four home runs, 23 RBIs and 22 runs scored, and the line for Ramos stands at .289/.337/.443 with nine homers, 36 RBIs and 22 runs scored.

In the visiting dugout, Washington’s pitching staff allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.45 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 9.69 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.80, along with a WHIP of 1.14 and a K-per-9 of 8.90.

The Nationals offense has slashed .241/.320/.399 on its way to 4.3 runs scored per game this year, including 3.9 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 3.4 per game over the teams last five outings (2-3 SU).

Shortstop Trea Turner and third baseman Anthony Rendon continue to lead Washington’s hitters. The speedy Turner is slashing .266/.348/.405 with eight home runs, 27 RBIs, 41 runs and 21 stolen bases. Rendon (.288/.358/.507) has produced nine homers, 31 RBIs and 30 runs scored.

The Nationals have lost 13.7 units and are 9-14 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in eight of those games, compared to 14 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have netted 6.0 units and are 17-9 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in eight of those games, compared to 17 that’ve cashed the under.

Washington Nationals vs. Tampa Bay Rays Free MLB Tip

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

Betting Notes

  • The over has cashed in three of Washington’s last seven contests.
  • Washington has posted 22.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 21.0 over its last five.
  • The Nationals have hit four home runs in their last 10 games, including three over their last five.