The Philadelphia Phillies will play host to their division rival Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET and NBC Sports Philadelphia will showcase the matchup.
Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Washington (+120) as the underdog to Philadelphia (-130). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -120 for over nine runs and +100 for under nine. The game’s most recent runline odds sit at -175 for betting the Nationals +1.5 runs and +155 for the Phillies -1.5.
The Nationals are 4-4 SU and are 2-5 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 1.9 units for moneyline gamblers in the season’s early going and 3.0 units ATS. The Phillies, on the other hand, are 6-2 SU and 5-2 ATS. They’ve gained 2.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.3 units ATS.
Philadelphia games have had an over/under record of 5-2 so far in 2019. The Nationals have an over/under record of 5-2.
Anibal Sanchez (0-0, 9.00 ERA) will get the nod for Washington. The right-handed Sanchez recorded 135 strikeouts in 136 innings last year with only 42 walks and finished the season 7-6 overall with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He made two starts against Philadelphia in 2018 and compiled a 1-0 record against the Phillies with a 0.82 ERA and eight strikeouts.
The Phillies are rolling with righty Vince Velasquez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) as their starter. Velasquez recorded 161 strikeouts in 146 innings last year with 59 walks, while finishing the season 9-12 overall with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He recorded three starts against the Nationals a year ago and registered a 1-0 record with a 2.45 ERA and 10 strikeouts.
Philadelphia’s pitchers have yielded 4.1 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. The team’s starters have a 3.92 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.95 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 8.9 K/9. In five games against divisional foes, Phillies starters have an ERA of 4.38 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.19.
The Philadelphia offense is putting up 6.6 runs per outing, including 6.0 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .269/.372/.427 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.
The Phillies’ batters have been led by Jean Segura, who is slashing .324/.361/.412 with 11 hits, five RBIs and nine runs scored.
For the visitors, Washington’s pitching staff allowed 6.1 runs per game and its starters own a 3.78 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 11.52 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 10.80, along with a WHIP of 1.22 and a K/9 of 9.64.
Nationals hitters have slashed .242/.343/.419 on their way to 5.8 runs scored per game this year, including over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Anthony Rendon has led Washington’s offense. Rendon is slashing .433/.528/.967 with 13 hits, nine RBIs and 12 runs scored.
The Phillies are coming off of a 2-1 win against the Twins, while the Nationals just got a 12-9 victory over the Mets.
Nationals vs. Phillies Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Phillies, ATS Winner – Nationals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Nationals went 11-8 SU against the Phillies last season.
- The Nationals have won three of their last four games SU.
- The Nationals’ bullpen managed 3.98 ERA against the Phillies last year.
- The Nationals have an OPS of .762 this season and an OPS of .751 against right-handed pitchers. The Phillies’ OPS stands at .850 overall and their right / left split is nearly identical.
