Colorado Rockies at Washington Nationals Betting Preview 04/12/18

The Colorado Rockies will head east to face the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will televise this NL showdown and the game gets going at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Colorado Rockies vs. Washington Nationals Odds

Colorado (+165) is entering this game as the underdog to Washington (-175) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at 8 runs. Odds for wagering on the game’s total stand at -120 for the over and +100 for the under. The game’s runline odds sit at -135 for betting the Rockies +1.5 runs and +115 for the Nationals -1.5 runs.

The Nationals are 6-6 SU and 5-6 ATS. They’ve lost 2.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 1.1 units against the spread (ATS). Washington has covered the spread only twice in its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven. The Rockies are 6-7 SU and have gone 5-7 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 4.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year and 1.1 units ATS. Colorado’s covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.

Nationals games have an over/under record of 5-4-2 so far in 2018. Colorado has an over/under record of 6-5-1.

The Rockies have lost 4.8 units and are 3-4 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in three of those games, compared to three that’ve hit the under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Nationals have lost 1.6 units and are 4-5 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in five of those games, compared to three that’ve gone under.

The right-handed Chad Bettis (1-0, 2.53 ERA) will get the start for the visiting Rockies. Bettis started nine games last year while finishing the season 2-4 overall with a 5.05 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.

The Nationals are putting the ball in the hands of lefty Gio Gonzalez (1-0, 1.59 ERA), who struck out 188 hitters in 201 innings last year with 79 walks. Gonzalez finished the season 15-9 overall with a 2.96 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.

As a unit, Washington’s pitchers have allowed 4.7 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 3.34, a WHIP of 1.16 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.5. The bullpen has a 5.26 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 11.4 K/9.

Washington’s offense is putting up 4.5 runs per contest, including 3.9 per game over its last 10 games and 3.2 per game over its last five. The team has hit .233/.324/.350 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.

The Nationals’ batters have been led by outfielders Bryce Harper and Adam Eaton. Harper is hitting .316/.500/.789 with 12 hits, six homers, 12 RBIs and 13 runs scored, while Eaton’s line is .345/.424/.655 with 10 hits, five RBIs and 10 runs.

Compared to his overall season slash line of .297/.393/.462, Eaton enjoyed hitting against righty pitching at home in 2017, hitting .389/.463/.611 across 41 plate appearances.

In the visiting dugout, Colorado’s pitching staff allowed 4.8 runs per game and its starters own a 4.98 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 8.31 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.32, along with a K-per-9 of 8.46.

The Rockies offense has slashed .232/.308/.399 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.9 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).

Right fielder Charlie Blackmon and second baseman DJ LeMahieu have led Colorado’s offense. Blackmon is slashing .282/.391/.641 with 11 hits, six RBIs and nine runs scored, while LeMahieu is hitting .308/.390/.481 with 16 hits, two homers, four RBIs and six runs scored.

Compared to his total season slash line of .331/.399/.601, Blackmon did not do especially well against lefties on the road last year, putting up a slash line of .261/.317/.387 across 120 such plate appearances.

Colorado Rockies vs. Washington Nationals Pick

Predictions: SU Winner – Nationals, ATS Winner – Rockies, O/U – OVER