This is the first game of a three-game series and the last series in the regular season for both teams. The series is an important one, to say the least, as with three games remaining the Indians are two games out of the 2nd AL Wild Card. The Nationals are in the Wild Card lead and look to host the Wild Card game and are only up one game on the Milwaukee Brewers.
In their last game, the Indians lost to the Chicago White Sox 8-0. The Indians were held scoreless on only four hits, and the White Sox scored eight runs on 11 hits.
The Nationals won their 5th in a row in their last game beating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3. The Nata scored six runs on nine hits, and the Phillies scored three runs on seven hits. Stephen Strasburg won his 18th game of the season and struck out ten batters and Asdrubal Cabrera and Michael Taylor each went yard.
This season the Indians rank 15th in runs scored and 3rd in team ERA and the Nationals rank 7th in runs scored and 14th in team ERA.
Pitching Match-Up
Cleveland: Zach Plesac (8-6 3.82 ERA)
Washington: Austin Voth (1-1 3.25 ERA)
The Indians have lost three of Plesac’s last four starts, and in his last one he gave up four earned runs on five hits in four 1/3 innings. He has given up at least four earned runs in three of his previous four starts and in the one before his last one he pitched a gem tossing a complete game shutout only allowing four hits in an 8-0 win over the LA Angels. Plesac is a rookie and making his first career start against the Nationals, and in two interleague starts this season he is 0-1 giving up eight earned runs in nine 2/3 innings of work. The Indians have won seven of his last 10 starts after a loss in their previous game.
The Nationals have lost Voth’s last three starts even though in his last one he only gave up one earned run on three hits in five innings in a 5-3 loss to the Miami Marlins. He has pitched pretty well in his last three starts where he has totaled 14 2/3 innings and only gave up four earned runs. This is Voth’s first career start against the Indians and in his only interleague start this season on July 16th he gave up one earned run in six innings in an 8-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles. The Nationals have lost six of his last seven starts.
Betting Angles
- In the last 13 games between these teams, the Under record is 9-4.
- In the last five games between these teams in Washington, the Under record is 4-1.
Straight Up / Over/Under / Run Line Records
Cleveland Indians: 93-66 SU / O/U 68-87 / Run Line W/L 86-73
Washington Nationals: 90-69 SU / O/U 72-76 / Run Line W/L 88-71
Key Betting Trends
- CLE is 5-2 in their last seven road games
- CLE is 11-5 in their last 16 interleague games against a right-hand starter
- CLE has an Over record of 4-1 in their previous five games
- WASH is 5-0 in their last five games
- WASH is 5-2 in their past seven interleague home games
- WASH has an Over record of 4-1 in their previous five games
Team Info
Things do not look good for the Indians, who have lost two in a row. They are two games out of the 2nd Wild Card and likely need to sweep this series and get some help to make the post-season.
The Indians are led by their pitching that ranks 3rd in MLB in team ERA, but they have given up eight runs in each of their last two games. They have also only scored three runs in their previous two games getting shutout in their last one.
The Nationals are in the playoffs, and they have a one-game lead over the Brewers for the right to host the Wild Card game.
In Washington’s five-game win streak their lineup has not been great, but their pitching has only given up more than three runs in one of the games.
On the season the Nationals are 47-31 at home, and the Indians are 44-34 on the road.
Key Injuries
INDIANS
3B Christian Arroyo is out until early October, and SP Danny Salazar is out indefinitely.
NATIONALS
RP Roenis Elias is out indefinitely, and RP Koda Glover is out until early October.
- Get more details: Indians at Nationals MLB Match-up Stats
