Thursday's matchup between the Diamondbacks and Nationals is set to get started at 1:05 PM ET from Nationals Park in Washington, DC. The Nationals are the slight favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -140, while the Diamondbacks are at +119. The over/under line is currently at 9 runs.
MacKenzie Gore is starting for the Nationals, and he will be facing off against Ryne Nelson and the Diamondbacks. Arizona is currently 2nd in the NL West, while the Nationals are 3rd in the NL East. MASN will be televising this game.
Arizona vs. Washington Matchup At A Glance
- Teams: Diamondbacks at Nationals
- Where: Nationals Park Washington
- Date: Thursday, June 20th
- Betting Odds WSH -140 | ARI +119 O/U 9
Diamondbacks vs Nationals Last Game Recap
Washington picked up a 3-1 win over the Diamondbacks in the most recent game of this series. The Nationals had a huge 6th inning, scoring all three of their runs. As for the Diamondbacks, they scored their only run in the 4th. Heading into the game, the Nationals were at +147 on the money line.
Patrick Corbin got the start for the Nationals, going just five innings but giving up just one run and striking out seven. He did issue three walks in the game. Derek Law got the win out of the bullpen, and Kyle Finnegan got the save. Brandon Pfaadt had a good outing for the Diamondbacks, getting the win after going 6 1/3 innings and giving up three earned runs.
Jesse Winker hit the game's only home run while going 1/3 with two RBIs. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had a two-hit game for Arizona.
Diamondbacks Preview
Arizona is 36-38 overall and are nine games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. The Diamondbacks are in 2nd place in the division, and they are 15-12 against other teams in the NL West. Their average run differential is +0.1 runs per game, and they have gone over the run line in two straight games as the underdog.
On the run line, the Diamondbacks are 21-17 as the underdog and 14-22 as the favorite. Their over/under record is 36-36, and their games have averaged 9 runs per game. Currently, their series with the Nationals is tied at one game apiece.
Ryne Nelson will be looking to build off his last outing, where he picked up the win and pitched well. Against the White Sox on June 14th, he went six innings, giving up just one earned run. Looking at his overall numbers, Nelson has made 11 starts and three of them have been quality starts. His record for the season is 4-5, and he has an ERA of 5.49. Opponents are batting .318 off Nelson this season. Per nine innings, he is averaging 6.44 strikeouts and 2.83 walks. Nelson's ERA at home is 7.34, compared to 5.11 on the road.
Arizona is one of the league's top-scoring offenses this season, averaging 4.8 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 4.9 runs per contest. The Diamondbacks are also one of the league's top home run-hitting teams, but their team batting average of .252 is just 6th in the league.
Christian Walker has been swinging a hot bat of late, batting .267 with four homers over his last 10 games. Walker is 1st on the team with 16 home runs and 49 RBIs. Ketel Marte is 2nd on the team with 15 homers and 42 RBIs, while batting .282 for the season.
Nationals Preview
Washington has been a solid run line bet this season, posting a 45-28 record, including 25-13 on the road. As underdogs, they have a 39-24 run line record. The Nationals are 36-37 overall and have won three straight series, entering today's game with an 8-2 record in their last 10 games.
When the over/under line is set at 9 runs, the Nationals' O/U record is 2-5-1. Their games have averaged 8.2 runs this season, and their overall O/U record is 32-38. Currently, Washington is on a four-game under streak, with 71.2% of their games having lower total lines than today's 9-run line.
Washington is sending left-hander MacKenzie Gore to the mound today vs. the Diamondbacks. He has made 14 starts this year and has a record of 6-5 with a 3.24 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting .248 off Gore this season, and he has a WHIP of 1.32. In his 14 appearances, Gore has turned in five quality starts and is averaging 10.92 strikeouts per nine innings. The last time he pitched, Gore went seven innings, giving up just one earned run and picking up the win. He has won two straight starts.
Over his last seven games, CJ Abrams has been on fire for the Nationals, going 11/27 with a home run and five RBIs. For the season, he is batting .261 with a team-high 36 RBIs and 11 homers, which is 12th in the league. Lane Thomas and Eddie Rosario are also tied for 2nd on the team with seven homers, but Thomas has a better batting average and has been swinging a better bat of late.
As a team, the Nationals are just 23rd in the league in scoring, averaging 4 runs per game. They are also the worst home run hitting team in the league and have the 26th ranked OPS in the league. Overall, they are batting just .234, which is 14th in the league.
Diamondbacks vs. Nationals Prediction: Nationals ML -140
Our prediction for today's Diamondbacks vs. Nationals game is to take the Nationals on the money line at -140. We have the Nationals winning this one by a final score of 6-5, giving us a little bit of wiggle room with the over/under line sitting at 9 runs.
Looking at the starting pitcher for the Diamondbacks, Ryne Nelson, we don't have him having a great outing, as he is predicted to finish with just four strikeouts and give up four earned runs. As for the Nationals starter, MacKenzie Gore, he is projected to finish with six strikeouts and give up two earned runs.
