Nationals vs Padres MLB Betting | Potential Playoff Preview

San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. leads the National League in home runs and Washington’s Kyle Schwarber is second. However, they will not share the field in Wednesday’s Nationals–Padres matchup with Schwarber hurt. The Padres are solid favorites on the MLB odds.

How to Bet Nationals at Padres MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Wednesday, 10:10 PM ET
Where: Petco Park
Probable pitchers (away/home): Patrick Corbin/Chris Paddack
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Padres -170, Nationals +160 (total 8.5)

Why Bet on Washington?

The Nats are without slugger Kyle Schwarber as he’s on the injured list with a hamstring strain. Schwarber belted 16 home runs in 18 games from June 12-29, joining Sammy Sosa (1998) and Barry Bonds (2001) as the only players in MLB history to hit that many big flies in an 18-game stretch. He went 24-for-69 (.348) with 27 RBIs, seven walks, 20 strikeouts and a 1.446 OPS in those games. He also hit 12 homers in a 10-game stretch, tying a record set by Albert Belle in 1995.

Schwarber, fellow outfielder and Juan Soto as well as shortstop Trea Turner have been selected to represent the Nationals in the All-Star Game. It’s the first selection for all three players. Schwarber clearly isn’t going to be able to play in it, however. Turner ranks in the NL in stolen bases (1st, 18), multi-hit games (T2nd, 30), hits (3rd, 100), batting average (3rd, .318) and fWAR (5th, 3.6).

It’s lefty Patrick Corbin (5-7) on the mound. Corbin was charged with six runs (five earned) over 4 2/3 innings last Thursday in a loss to the Dodgers. Corbin carried a shutout into the fourth inning before giving up a game-tying RBI single to Albert Pujols. Things got worse from there as he surrendered a solo homer to AJ Pollock and a grand slam to Max Muncy in the ensuing frame.

“Just a bad breaking ball to Muncy there, middle-middle,” Corbin said of the pitch to Muncy. “I was trying to throw a good one down and away, tried to get a swing and miss or possibly a ground ball. But coming in today, early on I felt great. Just a couple breaking balls that I left up there that they did some damage on.”

That snapped a streak of four consecutive starts in which he surrendered three earned runs or fewer. Corbin now owns 4.58 ERA over six starts since the beginning of June and a 5.56 ERA on the season.

Why Bet on San Diego?

Catcher Austin Nola (knee) is not expected to return before the All-Star break. Nola was cleared to catch bullpen sessions recently and will need a rehab assignment before being activated. The knee injury is Nola’s second stint on the injured list after a fractured finger forced him to the shelf in spring training.

“I’m going to have to get some games in and get conditioned,” Nola said. “This is a tough game. It takes more conditioning than what you think. When you’re out for over a month, you have to get your legs back under you. Especially catching. Nine innings, that’s the staple, right? You have to catch nine.”

The Padres have a National League-leading 4 All-Star representatives on the roster: shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. second baseman Cronenworth, starting pitcher Yu Darvish and closer Mark Melancon. The 4 selected are the most in SD history since 1998, and SD had not sent more than 2 since 2007. Tatis (starting at SS) and Cronenworth (reserve at 2B) represent the Padres’ 1st-ever double-play duo to be selected for the same All-Star Game.

Tatis (22 years and 193 days) will be the youngest Padre to ever start an All-Star Game. He is the only player in history with at least 40 homers, 100 RBI and 20 stolen bases through their first 162 career games.

Chris Paddack takes the mound for San Diego. Paddack logged a quality start in a no-decision against the Phillies last Friday, surrendering three runs on four hits over his seven innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out five. The Phillies got to him for a pair of runs in the first inning — on RBI ground outs off the bat of J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper — then Paddack served up a solo shot to Didi Gregorius in the fifth. Paddack demonstrated solid control against Philadelphia, throwing 67 of 95 pitches for strikes.

He has had an up-and-down campaign, compiling a 4-5 record along with a 4.56 ERA. Paddack’s improvement with his curveball this season has noticeable. Opposing hitters are slugging just .143 against the pitch (compared with a .583 mark last season and a .444 mark in 2019).