Red Sox vs Nationals MLB | Washington Can Play Spoiler

The Washington Nationals have long been eliminated from playoff contention, but they can play spoiler this weekend by perhaps keeping the visiting Boston Red Sox from the postseason. The Sox are favored for Friday’s opener on the MLB odds.

How to Bet Red Sox at Nationals MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, 7:05 PM ET
Where: Nationals Park
Probable pitchers (away/home): Eduardo Rodriguez/Josh Rogers
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Red Sox -190, Nationals +175 (total 9)

Why Bet on Boston?

If the Red Sox sweep this series, they should be an AL wild-card team – they are battling the Yankees, Blue Jays and Mariners for the two spots. If they get swept or lose two of three, they are probably out. It’s quite possible there’s a two-team tie for the final wild-card spot. Having two teams knotted for a final spot playoff spot has been rare — single-game tie-breakers have only happened 12 times in MLB history. But it has actually occurred several times since 2000. Three consecutive seasons from 2007-2009 ended in a Game 163 to determine a playoff berth. The Red Sox have played 163 games in a season 3 times (1961, ‘78, ‘85), but only in 1978 was that extra game used to break a tie (vs. NYY to determine AL East champion). The Sox also needed a tiebreaker in 1948 to determine the AL pennant winner (Game 155 vs. CLE). Hunter Renfroe hit his 30th HR of the other day, his 2nd time reaching that mark (33 HR in 2019 with the Padres). He is 1 of only 10 players to hit 25+ HR in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. Over his past 10 games, Renfroe batting .317 with a .983 OPS (13-for-41, 3 HR). Since the All-Star break, Renfroe leads the Red Sox in HR (17), RBI (47), XBH (34), and runs scored (41). It’s Eduardo Rodriguez (11-8) on the mound here. Rodriguez had up eight strikeouts over five innings of two-run baseball in a no-decision against the Yankees last Sunday night. The left-hander scattered six hits and one walk, needing 81 pitches (50 strikes). All of the damage done against him came in the fifth inning, where a run scored on a double play ball, then DJ LeMahieu came through with a two-out RBI single. Rodriguez now sports a 4.93 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 178/44 K/BB ratio over 151 2/3 innings on the season. Rodriguez allowed 2 runs or fewer in 4 of his 5 starts during September. He is 4-2 with a 3.63 ERA (21 ER/52.0 IP) over 10 starts since 8/1. Among AL pitchers with at least 100.0+ IP, he ranks 6th in SO/9.0 IP (10.56). Rodriguez is on pace for career bests in SO% (27.4), SO/BB (4.05), and FIP (3.36).

Why Bet on Washington?

The Nationals are playing out the string on a disappointing season and could fire Manager Dave Martinez. Washington comes off a 10-5 loss in Colorado on Wednesday in the team’s final road game of the year. Lane Thomas went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI in a bright spot. Thomas delivered a two-run single in the third inning to give the Nationals a 5-4 lead. Thomas is now hitting .245/.348/.422 with seven homers, 28 RBI and six stolen bases. Since joining the Nationals on Aug. 15, Thomas leads the club and ranks tied for fifth in the National League with 22 extra-base hits. Juan Soto was 1 for 4 with an RBI and is hitting .318. He’s trying to catch current Dodger and former teammate Trea Turner for the NL batting title. Soto made a nice catch at the fence in right and appeared to bang his knee on the wall. He hobbled around for a moment before motioning he was OK. Soto’s 98 home runs are fourth most in MLB history for anyone prior to their 23rd birthday behind Mel Ott (115), Eddie Mathews (112) and Tony Conigliaro (104). Since the All-Star break, Soto is hitting .362/.535/.670. The .535 OBP is eighth in MLB history for any player post-All-Star break. Washington leads the National League with a .259 team batting average. The Nationals (2005-pres.) have never led the National League in batting average for an entire season. It’s Josh Rogers (2-1) on the mound here. Rogers surrendered three runs over 4 2/3 innings last Sunday in a loss to the Reds. Rogers served up seven hits, including a two-run homer to Tyler Stephenson and a solo shot to Nick Castellanos in the fifth inning. He finished with three strikeouts and also issued a season-high four walks. “It was a grind all day,” Rogers said. “And I’m really fortunate I didn’t give up more than three with four walks, is just awful for me, it’s very uncharacteristic. It’s not like I was trying to nibble and not pound the zone, it’s just some days you just don’t have it.” The 27-year-old left-hander had allowed just three runs over 19.1 innings (1.40 ERA) over his previous three outings. Overall, he has pitched extremely well since joining the Nationals’ rotation in early September with a 2.73 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 19/11 K/BB ratio across 29 2/3 innings (five starts). Rogers faced Boston on June 14, 2019, working 4.1 innings of relief. He allowed two earned runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout. Rogers signed a minor league deal with the Nationals in early June, three days after the Orioles released him just four minor league appearances into the 2021 campaign. Rogers had Tommy John surgery in 2019 and didn’t pitch at all last year.