The Nationals have the better record and are in a far better position at this point in the year, but they lost three straight against Los Angeles last time these teams met. On Thursday, these two teams will close out a three game set with Washington aiming for revenge.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
The Nationals have been nothing but consistent here in 2016. They’ve won 16 games each of the first three months and here at the midpoint of July sit with eight wins.
Washington snapped a five game winning streak with a loss to the Pirates on Sunday, but the team’s won 13 of their last 18 and remains one of the top teams in the NL.
The Dodgers, on the other hand, are 10 games over .500 themselves, but are under-.500 on the road at 22-24. They’re also costing bettors overall despite the record with a total moneyline of -$260 as they fail to live up to lofty expectations.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
There was a thought that this game could be Clayton Kershaw’s return from the disabled list, but following a simulated game over the weekend, the Dodgers failed to provide any insight on when the ace lefty will be back, making him starting on Thursday highly unlikely.
Los Angeles, however, still hasn’t named a starter for the game, but it looks more likely we’ll see Bud Norris make his second start of the second half.
Norris has made three starts since being acquired from the Braves, going 2-0 with a 3.94 ERA over 16 innings.
Regardless of who toes the rubber for the Dodgers, the Nationals are expected to start Stephen Strasburg.
Strasburg will celebrate his 28th birthday on Wednesday before taking the hill, looking to remain undefeated.
The right-hander is having his best season to date and is finally developing into the ace quality starter he was supposed to become.
He missed a couple starts due to injury, but the All-Star is 13-0 with a 2.51 ERA and 0.985 WHIP. The WHIP has been crucial to his success. Although he’s actually walking more than normal, his strikeout rate has held steady and the opponent batting average against has dropped substantially as he’s been allowing a lot of weak contact.
Strasburg has been incredibly consistent this entire season, giving up two or more runs just five times in 17 starts. In his career against the Dodgers, he’s 1-0 with a 1.71 ERA and 0.911 WHIP in four starts.
LIVE BETTING
While the starting rotation and offense are typically the main ingredients in any given game, between these teams, the bullpens could be the main factor.
Should either team get deep in the game with the lead, it’s almost a certain win. The Dodgers and Nationals are first and second in MLB in bullpen ERA at 2.89 and 2.99 respectively.
Given the uncertainty in the L.A. rotation, the Dodgers’ pen has thrown more innings.
Last year, it seemed the Dodgers couldn’t find anyone to bridge the gap to Kenley Jansen, this year, they’ve got plenty of options. In 30 1/3 innings, Adam Liberatore has a 0.59 ERA and 0.824 WHIP. Meanwhile, Joe Blanton has been one of the better offseason acquisitions with a 2.05 ERA in a bullpen leading 48 1/3 innings.
For the Nationals, there was concern about how well this team would do with Jonathan Papelbon as the closer all year. Sure, the veteran right-hander is an abrasive personality, but he’s also a very good pitcher. The issues arise with him when the team struggles, when they’re winnings, he’s a huge piece in the backend.
QUICK PICK
The Dodgers’ offense has picked it up in July, but they’ll have their hands full with Strasburg feeding into a very strong Washington bullpen.
Overall, there’s too much stacked against the Dodgers to back them in this game: it’s in the nation’s capital and the Dodgers are playing below-.500 ball on the road, Strasburg is on the bump for the Nats and is still undefeated, and offensively these teams are pretty evenly matched.
Perhaps this is the game that Adrian Gonzalez breaks out for a dominating second-half or maybe Yasiel Puig puts on a display. You never really know, but the better bet in this one is to go with the pitching and take the Nats unless Kershaw surprises us and does take the hill.
MLB Odds: Nationals 5, Dodgers 3
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! First pitch for the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals is scheduled for Thursday, July 21, 2016, at 12:05 p.m. ET at Nationals Park. The matchup will be televised regionally on SportsNet L.A. and MASN2.
