For many teams, this is perhaps the worst time of the season, as it is now when they edge ever closer to the inevitability of missing the playoffs after chasing the pack all year long. That is exactly where the Washington Nationals are right now, as the chances of them getting into the postseason has pretty much gone from slim to none. They will finish up a 3-game series in Philadelphia on Wednesday night. They head into the game as favorites in the online sports betting lines.
Closer Look at the Expert MLB Betting Pick on Washington at Philadelphia & TV Info
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Time: 7:05PM Venue: Citizens Bank Park Opening MLB Lines: Washington -180
THERE’S NO. 37! @Bharper3407 sends his 37th home run of the season out to right! #Nats up, 2-1! pic.twitter.com/c577Fuflve
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 14, 2015
The Nationals (73-70) started last week believing that they could close the gap atop the NL East and make things very uncomfortable for the Mets. Things couldn’t have gone any worse, as they were swept by the Mets en route to a 1-5 record for the week. A pair of losses to the Miami Marlins was just the icing on a poorly baked cake. Washington has bounced back to win two in a row, but it has had no effect on the division race, as the Mets have now won 8 straight, and hold a 9.5 game lead. Lost in all the disappointment of a poor season is the performance of Bryce Harper. This young man came into the league full of promise, and he is most certainly beginning to fulfill it. Harper has 37 HR and 86 RBI, and I wouldn’t bet against him getting 40 and 100 before the season is over. At just 22 years of age, he is a piece that the Nationals will be building around for years to come. Gio Gonzalez (10-7, 3.88 ERA) will start for the Nationals in this one.
Coming into this game, the Phillies (56-89) hold a precarious half game lead over the Atlanta Braves for the worst record in baseball. It’s easy to make light of that awful record, but it’s also worth remembering that the prize for finishing dead last is the first pick in next year’s draft. The Phillies certainly need all the help that they can get, as everyone has basically underperformed for the entire season. Up until now, the fans in Philadelphia have been on board with the rebuilding project, but you definitely get the sense that their patience is wearing thin. Attendances are dropping, and are unlikely to start heading upwards again until positive changes are made. Adam Morgan (5-6, 4.60 ERA) comes into this one on a 2-game losing skid.