It’s possible that Friday could be the only time this season there are four MLB playoff games on the same day. The finale of those is Game 2 of the NLDS between the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers, with Los Angeles favored on the MLB odds.
How to Bet Nationals vs Dodgers 2019 NLDS Game 2 Betting Lines & Info
- When: Friday, 9:37 p.m. ET
- Where: Dodger Stadium
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Stephen Strasburg/Clayton Kershaw
- TV: TBS
- Live Stream: TBS Live
- Radio: SiriusXM
- NLDS Game 2 Betting Lines: Los Angeles Dodgers -165 (Total 7.5)
Cardinals vs Braves 2019 NLDS Game 2 Odds, Preview & Prediction
Weather Forecast
- Sunny: 22°C/72°F
- Humidity: 54%
- Precipitation: 0%
- Cloud Cover: 0%
- Wind: 5 mph WSW
- Stadium Type: Open
Why Bet on Washington?
Washington went 3-4 against Los Angeles in the regular season. The two clubs split a four-game series at Dodger Stadium, May 9-12. The Dodgers then won two of three at Nationals Park, July 26-28.
The Nationals became the ninth team in Major League Baseball history to come back from 12 games under .500 (19-31) to make the playoffs In addition, their 93 wins were the most for a team that was 12 games under .500 at any point since the 1914 Boston Braves finished 94-59 after being 28-40 at one point.
It’s likely to be Stephen Strasburg on the mound. The choice for Game 2 is between Strasburg on short rest and a well-rested Aníbal Sánchez. The outcome of Thursday’s Game 1 could also influence the decision. In two starts against the Dodgers this season, Strasburg was 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA. Sanchez also started twice against Los Angeles, going 0-1 with a 3.18 ERA. We think it will be Strasburg.
Strasburg Time
For the first time since his freshman year at San Diego State University, Strasburg came out of the bullpen in the Wild Card game Tuesday vs. Milwaukee in relief of Max Scherzer. Strasburg tossed 3.0 shutout innings, allowing two hits with four strikeouts and no walks to earn the win. Strasburg came on in the sixth inning with the Nationals facing a 3-1 deficit. The 31-year-old hurler did everything in his power to make sure that it stayed that way, attacking the Brewers’ hitters with upper-90s fastballs and pounding the strike zone — throwing 26 of his 34 pitches for strikes. Including Tuesday night, Strasburg is 2-2 with a 0.41 ERA (1 ER/22.0 IP), 28 strikeouts and four walks in four career Postseason games (3 starts).
In his final regular-season start, Strasburg limited the Phillies to one run on four hits over six strong innings. He had 10 strikeouts and no walks. Strasburg wrapped up one of the finest seasons of his career with an 18-6 record, 3.32 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a career-high 251 strikeouts over 209 innings.
Strasburg led the National League with those 209 innings pitched this season. It was just the second time in his 10-year career he made 33 or more starts. The season, by WAR, was the second-best of his career, trailing only 2017 when he was one of three Cy Young finalists in the National League.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.38
- Hits: 8.99
- Walks: 3.59
- Strike Outs: 8.07
- Runs: 4.46
- Hits: 8.25
- Walks: 3.19
- Strike Outs: 9.34
Why Bet on LA Dodgers?
The Dodgers won a franchise-record 106 regular-season games this year. They were one of four teams in the Major Leagues to record 100 wins in 2019, which is the first time in MLB history that there have been four teams to reach the century mark in the same season.
L.A. hit a National League record 279 home runs, which was 30 more than the previous record of 249 hit by the 2000 Houston Astros. Their .472 slugging percentage is the best in Los Angeles Dodger history and is second to the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers’ .474 slugging percentage.
The Dodgers’ .810 OPS bested the previous Dodger record set by the 2006 team when they had a .781 OPS. This year’s team scored 886 runs and that broke their previous high of 842 runs scored by the 1962 Dodgers. Their +273 run differential was a franchise record, breaking the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers +266 run differential.
Cody Bellinger probably will win NL MVP. The 24-year-old finished the regular season with a.305/.406/.629 triple-slash line, 121 runs scored, 47 homers, 115 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 660 plate appearances. Bellinger was one of only 19 major-league hitters in the last half-century to hit 40 homers and steal 15 bases while maintaining a .300 batting average.
The Dodgers also finished with the best ERA in baseball (3.39) and had three All-Star starting pitchers, including the ERA title winner in Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes this is the best team he’s had. And he knows a championship could make it the best in Dodger history: “The fans deserve it. The players deserve it. And we are equipped to accomplish that goal.”
Top Quality at the mount for Nationals vs Dodgers Game 2
It should be three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw on the mound. Kershaw threw a scoreless inning in a relief appearance against the Giants on Sunday. Kershaw made his first relief appearance since September 22, 2009. In his final regular-season start Kershaw threw six shutout innings vs. the Padres. Kershaw missed the first three weeks with a shoulder problem, but he still managed to finish the regular season 16-5 with a 3.03 ERA. It’s the first time he’s ended up with an ERA over 3.00 since his rookie season in 2008.
If it’s not Kershaw, it will be Ryu. Ryu delivered another dominant performance in last Saturday’s victory over the Giants, striking out seven over seven scoreless innings. The 32-year-old southpaw scattered five hits — all singles — and didn’t walk a batter. He finished the regular season with a 14-5 record to go along a league-leading 2.32 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 163/24 K/BB ratio over 182 2/3 innings in his 29 starts. He and Mets ace Jacob deGrom are considered the front-runners to capture the NL Cy Young Award.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.47
- Hits: 8.73
- Walks: 3.75
- Strike Outs: 8.37
- Runs: 3.78
- Hits: 7.43
- Walks: 2.42
- Strike Outs: 9.38
Nationals vs Dodgers NLDS Game 2 Betting Trends
- Under is 8-1-1 in Dodgers last 10 playoff home games
- Nationals are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games against an opponent in the National League
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington’s last 7 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
- Dodgers are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Dodgers’ last 6 games against an opponent in the National League East division
Expert Final Score Prediction for Nationals vs Dodgers
Washington Nationals 4 – Los Angeles Dodgers 3
