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New York Mets at Washington Nationals Free Pick

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets are paying a visit to Washington to square off against their divisional rival Nationals at Nationals Park. Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will televise the matchup and the game will get going at 1:05 p.m. ET.

New York Mets at Washington Nationals Odds

Vegas is listing New York (-150) as the favorite over Washington (+130). The total sits at 7.5 runs and bettors can wager on the over for even money (+100) and the under for -120. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds coming in at Mets +1.5 runs (+145) and Nationals -1.5 runs (-155).

The Mets have gone 4-1 SU this year and are 3-1 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 2.0 units for moneyline bettors this year and 3.6 units ATS. The Nationals are 4-2 SU and 3-2 ATS. They’ve gained 2.8 units for moneyline bettors and 1.3 units ATS.

Nationals games have an over/under record of 3-1-1 so far in 2018. New York has an over/under record of 2-2.

The Mets have gained 2.0 units and are 3-1 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in two of those games, compared to two that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Nationals have netted 1.8 units and are 2-2 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in three of those games, compared to one that went under.

The right-handed Jacob deGrom (1-0, 1.59 ERA) will get the nod for New York. deGrom struck out 239 hitters across 201 innings last year (with only 59 walks) while finishing the season 15-10 overall with a 3.53 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He made five starts against Washington in 2017 and put together a 3-2 record against the Nationals with a 2.36 ERA and 49 strikeouts.

The Nationals have tabbed righty Stephen Strasburg (1-0, 1.42 ERA) as their starter. Strasburg struck out 204 hitters over 175 innings last year with only 47 walks. Strasburg finished the season 15-4 overall with a 2.52 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He recorded four starts against the Mets a year ago and registered a 1-1 record with a 2.96 ERA and 19 strikeouts.

As a unit, Washington’s pitching staff has given up 5.5 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have an ERA of 3.97, a WHIP of 1.38 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.9. The bullpen has a 6.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 10.5 K/9. In three games against divisional opponents, Nationals starters have an ERA of 7.47 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.86.

The Washington hitters have produced 6.0 runs per contest so far this season and the team has hit .266/.393/.508 to begin the year.

The Nationals’ offense has been led by outfielders Bryce Harper and Adam Eaton. Harper has six hits, nine RBIs and seven runs scored, and Eaton’s line is .429/.478/.810 with nine hits, five RBIs and eight runs scored.

Eaton appeared to enjoy facing righty pitching at home last season. Across 41 such plate appearances, he slashed .389/.463/.611 (a drop from his overall season line of .297/.393/.462).

In the other dugout, New York’s pitching staff allowed 2.6 runs per game and its starters own a 3.65 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 12.04 K/9. The bullpen has an excellent ERA of just 1.33, along with a K/9 of 12.39.

Mets hitters have slashed .271/.386/.387 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game in 2018.

Outfielders Yoenis Cespedes and Brandon Nimmo have led New York’s hitters. Cespedes is slashing .278/.409/.611 with five hits, six RBIs and four runs scored, while Nimmo (.286/.583/.286) is up to two hits, zero RBIs and three runs scored.

New York Mets at Washington Nationals Prediction

Predictions: SU Winner – Nationals, ATS Winner – Mets, O/U – OVER

Notes

Betting Notes

The Nationals went 13-6 SU against the Mets in 2017.

The Nationals’ bullpen managed an ERA of 3.54 against the Mets last year.

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Written by GMS Previews

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