The Washington Nationals are slumping at an inopportune time and look to break out on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who started the Nats’ current streak of 14 losses in 22 games by taking the final two games of a series in Washington last month. The Dodgers limp home after getting swept in Pittsburgh over the weekend.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Nationals ended a subpar homestand Sunday with a 6-4 loss to Colorado, giving the Nationals three wins in seven games against the Diamondbacks and Rockies. The two NL West clubs entered play Sunday a combined 19 games under .500. The Nats finished down 3.99 units during the stretch of games. Washington begins its second straight 10-game road trip after losing seven of 10 just prior to their completed homestand. The Nats are 26-30 on the road this season, in the red 7.65 units and take on a Dodgers team that is 8-2 in its last 10 at Dodger Stadium and 37-18 overall, up 6.04 units for the season.
Los Angeles won two of three games when the clubs met in Washington last month with Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke throwing brilliantly in LA’s wins. They are scheduled to start the next two games making Monday’s opener critical for the Nats, who enter trailing the Mets by 1.5 games in the NL East.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Gio Gonzalez (8-4, 3.75 ERA) gave up two runs in five-plus innings taking a no-decision in Wednesday’s loss to the Dbacks. The lefty was able to escape further damage with seven strikeouts. He’s 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break, but he hasn’t recorded an out in the sixth inning in his last three starts.
Gonzalez is 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA in three career starts against the Dodgers with two of those coming at Dodger Stadium, where he owns a 3.75 ERA over 12 innings.
Brett Anderson (6-6, 3.06 ERA) tossed six innings of one-run ball Wednesday as the Dodgers topped the Phillies. He scattered four hits and struck out five and hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start since June 10. Anderson has been elite over his last nine starts posting a 2.43 ERA in 55.2 innings and will make his first career start against Washington.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“There is no reason we can’t win. It leaves a sour taste in your mouth. We have to play better baseball. You have to win all of these games, no matter the opponent. It never feels good to lose. No one is happy.” – Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer following Sunday’s loss to Colorado.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Washington’s bullpen was supposed to be solidified with the addition of Jonathan Papelbon as the new closer. But former closer Drew Storen wasn’t happy about the acquisition and his move to the eighth inning setup role. After tossing 14 scoreless appearances from June 26 to Aug. 6, Storen has taken the loss in each of his past two outings. The righty gave up a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning Friday and allowed two runs in the eighth Sunday in losses to the Rockies. Over those two outings he’s been charged with six earned runs on five hits in two innings and his ERA has risen from 1.52 to 2.70.
PROP TALK
A positive sign for the Nationals is the hot bat of Ryan Zimmerman, who returned to the lineup two weeks ago after missing 40 games with plantar fasciitis. Zimmerman went 3 for 4 Sunday with home runs in consecutive innings. It was his 13th multi-homer game and he notched an RBI in seven straight games with his two solo shots. Zimmerman was 6 for 11 in the weekend series with the Rockies lifting his average to .227. Still not where he or the team wants it to be, but it’s a sign the veteran is starting to swing a hot bat. He was hitting .209 when he went on the DL on June 10.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Dodgers come in struggling just as bad as the Nationals but they are on top of the NL West while the Nats are chasing the Mets. Los Angeles is a completely different team when playing at Dodger Stadium, going 37-18, and everything works for them at home. Brett Anderson will need to give the Dodgers another lengthy outing, something he’s been able to do recently, because the LA bullpen has not been good all season and bridging the gap to the ninth inning has become more of a problem. If that issue isn’t addressed the Dodgers could find themselves falling in the NL West.
Los Angeles 5, Washington 4
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!
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 Los Angeles Dodgers is scheduled for Monday, August 10, 2015, at 10:10 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium.
