MLB Odds: The Cincinnati Reds are underdogs on Monday as they visit the Washington Nationals. It should be Stephen Strasburg on the mound for the Washington Nationals on Monday and when he is the starter it is extremely rare for the Washington Nationals to be an underdog. The Cincinnati Reds have a good starter of their own going on Monday in Tony Cingrani but the Washington Nationals will still be listed as the favorite for this contest on Monday.
Here is a look at the matchup and MLB predictions.
Probable Pitching Matchup – Cingrini vs. Strasburg
The Cincinnati Reds were hoping to have Cingrini back on Saturday but his start was pushed back. The latest information had him set for this start on Monday in Washington. He has started six games this season with a 2-2 record and a 3.34 ERA. His problem has been walks as he has 17 in 32 innings this season.
Strasburg comes into this game with just a 3-3 record and a 3.48 ERA. He is considered a top of the line starter but he oftentimes struggles early in games and gets into trouble. He has started nine games this season and only has three wins and just an average ERA. Those are not the numbers of a top of the line starter. And with Strasburg you never get him going deep into games as he normally goes about six innings. He throws far too many pitches as he focuses on strikeouts so he almost never goes deep into games.
Series Notes
The Washington Nationals have won six of the last ten in this series with six of the last eight meetings going over. The Washington Nationals have won 7 of the last 10 at home in this series with three of the last five going over the MLB odds.
MLB Picks
If both of these pitchers could be trusted to go deep into the game I might like the game to go under but neither one is likely to make it past the sixth inning. I will take this game on Monday over the total.