Baseball Betting: The Washington Nationals can take another step closer to clinching the National League East as they visit the Miami Marlins on Thursday. The Nationals have pulled well clear of the Atlanta Braves in the division and it should only be a matter of days before the Nationals wrap up a playoff spot. Here is a look at Thursday’s game and baseball predictions.
Probable Pitching Matchup – Doug Fister vs. Brad Hand
You can make a case that Doug Fister has been the best pitcher for the Nationals this season. He comes into this game at 14-6 with a 2.55 ERA. You know what you are going to get with Fister every time he takes the mound as he goes six or seven innings and allows about two runs. He is coming off a win against the Mets last time out as he went six innings and allowed two earned runs.
Brad Hand comes into this game at 3-7 with a 4.36 ERA. His overall numbers are not that good but he has made two straight quality starts. He gave up two runs last time out against the Phillies. Hand doesn’t go deep into games as he has only averaged five innings in his last three starts. He is 1-1 in hose starts with a 2.40 ERA. Hand has not done well in his career against the Nationals with an 0-4 record and a 7.48 ERA.
Series Notes
This is the first game of a four-game series between the teams. They have split their last ten meetings overall with two of the last three going under the baseball betting total. The Nationals have more than held their own in Miami of late, winning six of the last 10. The last meeting was in late July and it was Brad Hand getting the start for the Marlins in a 4-3 loss.
Baseball Predictions
The pitching matchup really favors the Nationals in this game with Fister against Hand plus it is hard to make a case for taking the Marlins with Stanton out of the lineup. We’ll look for the Nationals to get the road win.
