After taking the first two games of this series, the Nationals go searching for the sweep of the Giants Wednesday afternoon out by the Bay. Which way are we going here for our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Wednesday’s MLB betting odds opened Washington at around -115 over San Francisco, with an over/under of nine runs. Early betting action then dipped this game back toward a pick’em.
Nationals vs. Giants Set-Up
Washington took the opener of this series Monday night 4-0, then won Tuesday 5-3. The Nationals cashed in as +120 underdogs on the MLB betting line Monday, then won as -115 favorites Tuesday.
With Tuesday’s win, Washington is 3-2 over its last five games. At 60-53 overall the Nationals still trail first-place Atlanta by six games in the NL East, but they also now lead the National League wild-card race by one game over Philadelphia and 1.5 games over St. Louis.
With Tuesday’s loss San Francisco, which was hot not too long ago, now owns a three-game losing skid, part of a current 1-5 slide. At 56-58 overall the Giants trail the division-leading Dodgers by a mile and a half in the NL West, but they’re only 3.5 games back of the Phillies in the battle for that second National League wild-card spot.
The Nats lead the season series with the Giants four games to one.
Wednesday’s Starting Arms
Rookie righty Anderson, by our strict standards, is just 3/15 on quality starts this season and 0 for his last seven. Last Friday he gave up three runs on eight hits through five innings of a 5-4 San Francisco loss at Colorado. And over his last six outings, he’s allowed 23 runs on 40 hits and 12 walks through 28 1/3 innings.
The Giants are 9-6 with Anderson this season but 0-2 over his last two starts.
This start will be Anderson’s first-ever against Washington.
Ross is 0/2 on quality starts this season, to go along with 18 appearances in relief. Last Friday he came up with his best outing of the season, holding Arizona scoreless on one hit, although he also walked five, in 5 1/3 innings of a 3-0 Nationals victory. But over his two outings previous to that he’d allowed nine earned runs and 17 hits through 10 innings.
Washington is 1-1 when Ross starts this season.
This start will be Ross’ first against San Francisco since 2015, and that’s a long time ago.
Wednesday’s Batting Splits
Washington is batting .248/.326/.425 against right-handed pitching this season.
San Francisco is batting .240/.305/.405 against RH pitching this season.
The Bullpens
The Nationals bullpen owns an ML-worst 6.03 ERA this season and a 1.53 WHIP while allowing an .802 OPS. Numbers like those are the reason we rank this unit among the bottom two or three bullpens in Baseball.
The Giants pen owns a 3.72 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP while allowing a .682 OPS. Numbers like those are why we rank this unit among the top two bullpens in Baseball.
Totals Report
- Unders are 56-51 in Nationals games this season.
- Overs are 55-52 in Giants games this season.
- Totals are split 25-25 in games played at Oracle Park this season.
- Unders are 3-2 in Nats-Giants games this season.
- Get more details: Nationals at Giants MLB Match-up Stats
