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Washington Nationals vs. San Diego Padres Free Preview 05/07/18

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Nationals are traveling west to face the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park. Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will televise this NL matchup and the action gets underway at 10:10 p.m. ET.

Washington Nationals at San Diego Padres Odds

Vegas is listing Washington (-170) as the favorite over San Diego (+160). The total sits at seven runs and bettors can take either the over or the under for -110. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the runline odds standing at -120 for the Nationals -1.5 runs and +100 for the Padres +1.5.

Nationals vs Padres

The Padres are 13-22 SU and 14-20 ATS. They’ve lost 5.7 units for moneyline bettors and 11.6 units against the spread (ATS). San Diego has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven. The Nationals have gone 18-17 SU this year and are 17-17 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 6.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline through the early portions of the year, but have gained 0.8 units ATS. Washington has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven.

Padres games have an over/under record of 16-16-2 so far in 2018. Washington has an over/under record of 15-17-2.

Stephen Strasburg will get the start for the visiting Nationals. The right-handed Strasburg is 3-3 with a 3.47 ERA and 54 strikeouts. He has yet to face San Diego this year, but he did make two starts against the team in 2017, posting a 1-1 record with a 1.38 ERA and 23 strikeouts.

The Padres are handing the ball to righty Tyson Ross (2-2, 3.28 ERA), who has 40 strikeouts and 13 walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.18. Ross did not record a start against the Nationals in 2017.

As a unit, San Diego’s pitchers have allowed 5.0 runs per game overall this season. The club’s starters have a 5.29 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.26 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 9.9 K/9.

The San Diego offense has put up 3.9 runs per contest, including 3.9 per game over its last 10 games and 3.4 per game over its last five. The team has hit .217/.300/.395 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.

The Padres’ offense has been led by first baseman Eric Hosmer and third baseman Christian Villanueva. Hosmer is hitting .297/.403/.534 with five home runs, 12 RBIs and 18 runs scored, while Villanueva’s line is .265/.351/.592 with nine homers, 20 RBIs and 17 runs scored.

Hosmer seemed to enjoy hitting righty pitching at home in 2017. Over 221 such plate appearances, he slashed .354/.439/.615 (his overall season line was .318/.385/.498).

In the other dugout, Washington’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.19 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 10.18 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.69, along with a K/9 of 9.64.

Nationals hitters have slashed .241/.338/.403 on their way to 4.7 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.0 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).

Washington’s hitters have been led by Bryce Harper and Matt Adams, who have combined to swat 20 home runs. Harper is slashing .246/.427/.579 with 12 home runs, 28 RBIs and 29 runs scored, while Adams (.296/.412/.676) has produced eight homers, 18 RBIs and 15 runs scored.

Compared to his overall season slash line of .317/.411/.596, Harper enjoyed hitting against right-handed pitchers on the road last season, putting up a slash line of .319/.438/.681 across 176 such plate appearances.

The Nationals have gained 0.7 units and are 12-11 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 12 of those games, compared to 10 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Padres have lost 5.3 units and are 9-12 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in nine of those games, compared to 10 that went under.

Washington Nationals vs. San Diego Padres Prediction

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

Notes

Betting Notes

The Nationals have won seven of their last eight games SU.

Washington has posted 21.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 19.4 over its last five.

The Nationals have hit 18 home runs in their last 10 games. The Padres have hit nine over their last 10.

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Written by GMS Previews

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