Orioles Are MLB Betting Underdogs Against Nationals on Wednesday

Posted by Michael Hunt on Tuesday,May 9, 2017 9:28, EDT in

The Battle of the Beltway shifts locations for Wednesday night’s interleague game as the Baltimore Orioles head to the nation’s capital. The Orioles will lose the designated hitter, which is usually Mark Trumbo. Considering he led the majors in homers last year, Trumbo could be in the outfield. Before heading into this series, the Orioles swept the Chicago White Sox and won every game in that series. For the Nationals, they’re coming off a 3 games series against the Philadelphia Phillies, winning the series 2-1. In Game 1 of the series, Baltimore took the win. The Nats will be MLB betting favorites for the game on Wednesday night.

Baltimore at Washington MLB Betting Preview & Prediction

When: Wednesday, May 10, 7:05 PM ET
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Probable pitchers (away/home): Wade Miley/Stephen Strasburg
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream: MLB.tv
Radio: Baltimore / Washington
Opening MLB Lines: Nationals favored by TBA

Why Bet On Baltimore?

The Orioles are again without All-Star closer Zach Britton as he landed back on the DL. Britton came off the 10-day disabled list last Tuesday and appeared in two games before feeling discomfort in his pitching arm. He had an MRI on Friday and was placed on the 10-day DL on Saturday. The left-hander acknowledged that he probably came back too soon. This year, he’s 5 for 5 in save opportunities with a 1.00 ERA.

“The doctors and the trainers wanted me to be a little more cautious with it at the time, maybe take another week,” Britton said. “I was kind of over sitting on the bench watching games and felt I was in a good enough position to come back. Obviously, I wasn’t.”

Brad Brach earned his seventh save of the season Sunday in the Orioles’ 4-0 defeat of the White Sox. He has pitched very well in Britton’s spot. Lefty Donnie Hart has been excellent as well, with 13 strikeouts against three walks in 10 innings. It’s uncertain how well he’ll keep this up, however, because last year Hart was a somewhat strict LOOGY pitcher; right-handers had a .787 OPS off of him, which is better than an average major-league hitter. This year he has shut down lefties and righties equally well in 26 plate appearances against right-handers and 20 against lefties.

It’s lefty Wade Miley (1-1, 2.27) on the mound here. He left Friday night’s game at Camden Yards with a left wrist contusion after he was struck by line drives off the bats of two consecutive White Sox hitters in the first inning. Chicago first baseman Jose Abreu smoked a liner off Miley’s pitching hand. The veteran left-hander was examined by a trainer, insisted he was OK and stayed in the game. Two pitches later, Avisail Garcia ripped a liner that struck Miley in the back of the left leg. He scrambled to his feet, but that was the last of his 12 pitches on Friday night.

Why Bet On Washington?

Koda Glover (hip) expects to be activated by the end of this week. The young reliever threw another bullpen session Monday without any issues. It’s unclear at this point whether Glover will need a short rehab assignment, but either way he should be back in a few days. He’s a good bet to get save chances with Shawn Kelley (back) sidelined. Matt Albers suffered his first blown save on Sunday, giving up a three-run homer to Aaron Altherr in the eighth inning. It’s the first run that Albers has allowed all season and he still owns a tremendous 0.77 ERA and 0.51 WHIP.

It’s likely that outfielder Bryce Harper is back in the lineup by this game. Harper sat out of the weekend after leaving Thursday’s game with groin tightness. He also wasn’t in the starting lineup Monday. The Nationals are playing it safe with their star. Harper still ranks among MLB hitters in on-base percentage (1st, .504), runs scored (1st, 35), walks (T1st, 26), slugging percentage (4th, .723), batting average (4th, .376), RBI (T5th, 27), and home runs (T8th, 9).

Ryan Zimmerman’s .435 average was the highest for any player with at least 13 home runs in his team’s first 30 games. Only three other players have hit 13 home runs and batted .400 or higher in their teams’ first 30 games: Mickey Mantle (1956, 56, .400, 15 HR), Willie Mays (1964, .407, 14 HR), and Josh Hamilton (2012, .406, 14 HR).

It’s Stephen Strasburg (3-1, 2.66) for Washington. Strasburg allowed no runs on five hits and four walks while striking out five over 5.2 innings to earn the win Friday against the Phillies. Strasburg held the Phillies in check, but ran his pitch count up to 119 before being removed before completing six innings. This was the first time in six starts that he’s held an opponent to fewer than two runs.

Baltimore at Washington MLB Betting Pick: Washington Nationals

Strasburg has faced the Orioles twice and owns a 2.25 ERA in his career against them.