The San Diego Padres will head east to play the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. The game gets underway 7:05 p.m. ET and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will broadcast this NL matchup.
San Diego Padres vs. Washington Nationals Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Washington (-175) as the favorite over San Diego (+165). The total sits at 8.5 runs and bettors can take either the over or the under for -110. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds standing at Padres +1.5 runs (-135) and Nationals +-1.5 runs (+115).
The Nationals are 24-21 SU and 22-22 ATS. The team’s lost 3.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 0.8 units against the spread (ATS). Washington has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Padres have gone 20-28 SU this year and are 23-24 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 3.7 units for moneyline bettors in the season’s early going and 8.0 units ATS. San Diego’s covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Washington games have an over/under record of 19-23-2 thus far in 2018. San Diego has an over/under record of 21-24-2.
Robbie Erlin will get the start for the visiting Padres. The left-handed Erlin is 1-2 with a 3.46 ERA and 24 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Nationals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Nationals will put the ball in the left hand of Gio Gonzalez (4-2, 2.36 ERA, 1.41 WHIP), who’s got 55 punchouts and 23 walks. Gonzalez is 0-0 with eight strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA in one start against San Diego this year.
As a unit, Washington’s pitchers have given up 3.8 runs per game overall this year. Its starting pitching staff has a 2.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.76 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 9.7 K/9.
Washington’s hitters are putting up 4.4 runs per outing, including 3.3 per game over its last 10 games and 3.0 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .185/.267/.309 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Outfielder Bryce Harper and shortstop Trea Turner have led the charge for the Nationals’ batters this year. Harper is hitting .224/.387/.507 with 13 home runs, 31 RBIs and 31 runs scored, while Turner’s line sits at .267/.371/.426 with six homers, 17 RBIs, 28 runs and 13 steals.
Harper saw a slight decline in production against lefties at home last year. Across 69 such plate appearances, he slashed .295/.362/.328 (compared to his total season line of .317/.411/.596).
In the visiting dugout, San Diego’s pitching staff allowed 4.6 runs per game and its starters own a 4.86 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 8.28 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.08, along with a WHIP of 1.50.
The Padres offense has slashed .229/.299/.367 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.2 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).
San Diego’s hitters have been led by first baseman Eric Hosmer and third baseman Christian Villanueva. Hosmer is hitting .268/.366/.482 with six home runs, 20 RBIs and 24 runs scored, while Villanueva (.250/.322/.568) is up to 12 homers, 26 RBIs and 20 runs scored.
Maintaining a slash line of .284/.327/.433 across 208 plate appearances, Hosmer seemed to have a little trouble hitting lefties last year (compared to his overall season slash line of .318/.385/.498).
The Padres have lost 0.3 units and are 6-9 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in eight of those games, compared to seven that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Nationals have lost 9.5 units and are 6-8 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over’s cashed in four of those games, compared to nine that went under.
San Diego Padres vs. Washington Nationals Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Nationals, ATS Winner – Padres, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Washington has posted 17.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 15.0 over its last five.
The Padres have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
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