It’s a potential NLDS preview on Friday as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals open a series in D.C. The Dodgers are a lock to play in the NLDS, while the Nats may have to win the Wild-Card game to get there – if the Nationals even get a wild-card spot. They are home MLB betting underdogs for this one.
How to Bet Dodgers vs Nationals MLB Lines & Game Info
- When: Friday, 7:05 PM ET
- Where: Nationals Park
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Hyun-Jin Ryu/Anibal Sanchez
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: ESPN 1420
- MLB Lines: Los Angeles Dodgers -170 (Total 9.5)
Braves vs Phillies MLB Odds, Preview & Prediction
Why Bet on LA Dodgers?
L.A. got good news Thursday on super-utility man Enrique Hernandez as manager Dave Roberts said that X-rays on Hernandez’s left hand were negative. Hernandez appeared to injure his left hand or wrist on a hard swing in the fourth inning Wednesday versus the Angels and he was replaced on defense in the next inning.
NL MVP candidate Cody Bellinger (34) and Max Muncy (26) have combined for 60 home runs this season, which is the second-most by a Dodger duo all-time prior to the month of August. In 2000, Gary Sheffield (34) and Eric Karros (27) combined for 61 during the first four months of the season. Since his MLB debut on April 25, 2017, Bellinger has the most homers in the National League.
It’s All-Star lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu on the mound and he leads the majors in ERA. Ryu (11-2) allowed one run on four hits and three walks over seven innings last Friday, striking out seven to earn the win in a 2-1 victory over the Marlins. The only damage against Ryu came on a Jorge Alfaro double in the fourth inning. Ryu uncharacteristically issued a pair of walks in the second inning, and it allowed the Marlins to load the bases as they were sandwiched around a single. Fortune was on Ryu’s side, however, as a rookie starter, Zac Gallen failed to help his cause.
The 32-year-old has now allowed only three runs over his last 20 innings since a seven-run implosion versus the Rockies on June 28. The South Korean has a 1.76 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with a sublime 112:14 K:BB in 123 innings this season. Despite striking out a pedestrian 24.4 percent of opposing hitters, Ryu is on pace to crush the all-time single-season K/BB record. Having already made history by becoming the first South Korean pitcher to start an All-Star Game, Ryu remains in the thick of the conversation for the National League Cy Young Award.
Ryu last faced the Nationals on May 12 at Dodger Stadium, taking the win after tossing 8.0 scoreless innings while allowing only one hit and striking out nine batters. In four career starts against Washington, he has a 2-1 record with a 1.35 ERA (4 ER/26.2 IP), while posting a 0.71 WHIP and limiting batters to a .138 average.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.41
- Hits: 8.96
- Walks: 3.90
- Strike Outs: 8.10
Defense
- Runs: 3.85
- Hits: 7.43
- Walks: 2.26
- Strike Outs: 9.13
Why Bet on Washington?
The Nationals opened the season 19-31. They had the second-worst record in the National League at the time. Only one other team in the last 14 years had come back from a comparable or worse 50-game start to a season to make the playoffs: the 2005 Astros, who went from 18-32 to 89-73 and eventually the NL pennant. The 2019 Nationals reached the 100-game mark after Wednesday’s doubleheader opener at 54-46. The Nats are now in the company of only the 2005 Athletics in terms of such a turnaround by the 100-game mark. Those A’s after an 18-32 start got to 54-46 after 100 games.
The Nats will be happy to see a lefty in this game. The Nationals have posted a National League-best .359 on-base percentage against left-handed pitching in 2019. They trail only the Houston Astros (.369) among MLB clubs in OBP vs. lefties. The Nationals rank second in the NL against lefties in batting average (.285) and slugging percentage (.484). The Nationals’ slash line of .285/.359/.484 would be the best vs. left-handed pitching in team history.
The Nationals’ Anibal Sanchez (6-6) picked up the win Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks over five-plus innings while striking out four in a 5-3 victory over Atlanta. The veteran right-hander threw 57 of 97 pitches for strikes and faded in the sixth inning, serving up a two-run homer to Brian McCann before getting the hook, but fortunately for the Nats, they had a three-run lead at the time. Sanchez will take a 3.80 ERA and 81:38 K:BB through 94.2 innings into Friday.
After dropping his first six decisions, Sanchez has now won six decisions in a row over the last two months. While he only lasted five innings on Saturday, he had thrown quality starts in five of his last six starts.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 4.94
- Hits: 8.68
- Walks: 3.34
- Strike Outs: 8.33
Defense
- Runs: 4.45
- Hits: 8.39
- Walks: 3.13
- Strike Outs: 9.45
Dodgers vs Nationals MLB Betting Trends
- Dodgers are 4-15 in Ryu’s last 19 road starts vs. a team with a winning record
- Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter
- Dodgers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against an opponent in the National League
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Dodgers’ last 7 games against an opponent in the National League East division
- Nationals are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Washington’s last 20 games
Expert Final Score Prediction for Dodgers vs Nationals
Los Angeles Dodgers 3 – Washington Nationals 4
