Bryce Harper and the NL East leading Nationals will look to pad their record in front of a nationally televised audience on Saturday night when the Reds pay a visit to the nation’s capital for the third game of the teams extended weekend series.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
After dropping yet another decision in extra innings on Tuesday night, the Reds fell to an even 20 games under .500 that’s seen them cost MLB bettors over $1300 for the season. It’s been ugly wherever Bryan Price’s squad has played with it six games under .500 as a host (-$429) and a sickening 14 games under .500 away from Great American Ball Park (-$899). There really is no recovering for this team as the minors don’t have much in the way of saviors to bring up, while the big club has absolutely no pitching to fall back on to protect a lead.
While Lucas Giolito’s MLB debut was hampered by Mother Nature on Tuesday night, it ended up being worth it for fans of the Nats after Dusty Baker’s men went on to take the second of three against the division rival Mets. In doing so, they increased their lead atop the NL East standings to five games. In the process, the team moved to 10 games over .500 at home where they’ve lined their supporter’s pockets with $509 worth of betting profit.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
The Reds are dead last in the league in ERA and WHIP. They also check in at No. 26 in quality starts and strikeouts. Making the jobs of a terrible pitching staff all the more tough is a defense that’s committed the most errors in the game. Bottom line, Cincy’s pitching stinks out loud, so when a sub .500 pitcher with a 4.38 ERA takes the bump and the team feels it has a shot, you know you’ve got big time problems. Dan Straily has had a nice season reaclimaiting to major league hitting after making a combined 18 starts the last two seasons due to injury and ineffectiveness. Still, the Reds have won just two of his eight road starts.
While Joe Ross hasn’t blown up like many a fantasy baseballers predicted at the outset of the season, he’s still been a viable arm within Dusty Baker’s rotation. Washington ranks No. 3 in the quality start department, and Ross has lent a hand in tossing quality efforts three of the last four times he’s taken to the starting bump. The lone gaffe occurred last time out versus the Mets who got to him for 10 hits and 4 earned through 6 IP. The Nationals have won six of his last seven starts as well as four of his six overall outings in front of the hometown faithful.
LIVE BETTING
Wilson Ramos has long been a highly touted backstop that many figured could become the next power slugging catcher cut from the mold of a Mike Piazza or Jorge Posada. While it’s taken him longer to click, he’s busting out in a big way in 2016 and should be one to target in this match-up against Straily whom he has one extra base hit and RBI against in three career at-bats.
QUICK PICK
While the Reds offense offers up some intriguing sticks with Jay Bruce having a bounce back season and Adam Duvall coming from out of nowhere to lead the team with his 21 bombs, the pitching staff simply makes it impossible to seriously entertain thoughts of routinely backing this club on the money-line.
Washington has been on a roll at home of late, and that’s not a streak I’d feel comfortable getting in the way of with a pitcher like Dan Straily leading my charge.
MLB Odds: Nationals 9, Reds 5
The MLB odds for this game will be available first at BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play! First pitch for the game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals is scheduled for Saturday, July 2, 2016, at 7:15 p.m. ET at Nationals Park. The matchup will be televised regionally on FOX.
