The Baltimore Orioles look to gain some confidence after recent struggles and the Nationals are biding time until their stars get healthy. The two meet in the Battle of the Beltways Series leading into a much needed break for both teams.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Washington hopes having the last couple of days off will help them get back on track offensively. After losing twice in Cincinnati, Wednesday’s series finale was rained out and the club took Thursday off. The Nats haven’t been very good offensively – missing several regulars from the lineup tends to do that – falling 3-2 on Monday and 5-0 on Tuesday at home to the Reds. They’ve scored three runs or fewer six times during a 3-4 stretch with the under at 6-1.
Just two weeks ago the Orioles looked like they had it all together and were ready to run away with the AL East after winning 16 of 20 games. Things changed in a hurry for the O’s, who are just 2-8 since then. Baltimore had its own troubles at the dish during a three-game sweep at the hand of Minnesota, which concluded with Wednesday’s 5-3 defeat. The O’s scored 19 runs over their last seven – nine coming during their only victory in that span. Baltimore returns home where they are 11-4 over their previous 15 games and 28-17 up 8.38 units overall.
PITCHING MATCHUP
There is some gamesmanship going on between the two clubs as they play the first of two Battle of the Beltways Series this season.
Neither team has committed to a starting pitcher for Saturday’s game. Jordan Zimmerman (7-5, 3.04 ERA) would be on schedule to start for the Nationals, but his wife is expecting to give birth and could be unavailable. Doug Fister (3-4, 4.08 ERA) could start Saturday on regular rest.
Miguel Gonzalez (7-5, 3.87 ERA) is on schedule to start for the Orioles but the club has been non-committal on its announcement. Gonzalez has been solid in a rotation that has been shaky most of the first half. He pitched well Sunday yielding a run on four hits over six innings in a win over the white Sox.
When Gonzalez keeps the ball in the yard he is very good. In six starts where didn’t surrender a home run he’s 4-1 with a 0.70 ERA. He’s given up 15 home runs in his other nine turns.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“Every time someone talks to me about moving him down in the order, I tell them it’s tough to mess with. Manny brings the ability to get to second with one swing of the bat as opposed to a single and a stolen base. If he can continue to be selective, he’s going to have one of those years we all know he’s capable of.” – Orioles manager Buck Showalter on Manny Machado batting leadoff
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Denard Span is likely heading to the disabled list leaving the Nationals short another regular from their lineup. Washington probably won’t have more than four regulars available for their weekend series with Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman already on the DL and Yunel Escobar nursing a sore hamstring. Not once this season has manager Matt Williams been able to fill out a lineup card with all eight of his projected regulars on it and there’s no guarantee that will happen in 2015. The Nats have received valuable contributions from Clint Robinson, Danny Espinosa and Michael A. Taylor, but there are too many holes to be filled and some position always ends up uncovered.
PROP TALK
Manny Machado is having an All-Star season and was rewarded by being selected as a reserve to the Midsummer Classic. Even with the O’s struggling on offense, Machado has been a consistent force in the leadoff spot, where he’s been in the order for most of the season. Machado is hitting .301 with 19 home runs entering the weekend and could improve on those numbers against the Nationals, whom he’s feasted on during his brief career. Machado hits .485 with a pair of home runs and four double in 33 lifetime at-bats against Washington pitching.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
With so many regulars out of the lineup and an unsettled rotation, the Nationals are happy the All-Star break is upon us. No matter how good your pitching is if you can’t score runs your odds of losing increase greatly. Unfortunately, that’s what the Nats are faced with right now. They’ve gotten valuable contributions from several reserves, but those players aren’t starting for a reason. The O’s have enough firepower to break out of their recent malaise and they do it against their Beltway neighbors.
Baltimore 6, Washington 2
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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 Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, 2015, at 7:15 p.m. ET at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The matchup will be televised regionally on FOX.
