The streaking St. Louis Cardinals will go for their ninth win in a row when they play host to the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium. The opening pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will televise this NL matchup.
Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals Odds
Washington (+120) is coming into this one as the underdog to St. Louis (-130) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs (+100 for the under and -120 for the over). You can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at -175 for the Nationals +1.5 runs and +155 for the Cardinals -1.5 runs.
The Cardinals are 66-55 straight up (SU) and 60-60 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle much for gamblers, losing 1.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.9 units (ATS). On the other hand, the Nationals have gone 60-61 SU this year and are 58-62 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 22.1 units for moneyline bettors and 5.8 units ATS.
Cardinals games have a 57-58-5 over/under record in 2018. Washington has been a strong under bet with a total record of 50-67-3.
The right-handed Tanner Roark is getting the nod for the visiting Nationals. Roark is 7-12 with a 4.12 ERA and 125 strikeouts. He has yet to face St. Louis this year, but he made two starts against the team in 2017, putting together a 1-1 record with a 6.75 ERA and five strikeouts.
The Cardinals will put the ball in the right hand of Luke Weaver (6-10, 4.66 ERA), who’s got 111 strikeouts and 43 walks this season as well as a 1.40 WHIP. Weaver did not record a start against the Nationals in 2017.
St. Louis’ pitchers have given up 4.1 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The team’s starters have a 3.44 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.31 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 8.2 K/9.
St. Louis’ offense has put up 4.6 runs per outing, including 5.3 per game over its last 10 games and 6.6 per game over its last five. The team has hit .318/.392/.538 over its last five games and is 5-0 SU during that span.
Marcell Ozuna has helped lead the Cardinals’ offense this season with 14 home runs, 64 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Washington’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 3.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 8.99 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.84, along with a K-per-9 of 8.57.
The Nationals offense has slashed .250/.330/.414 on its way to 4.6 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.4 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Washington’s offense has been led by Trea Turner. Turner is hitting .268/.338/.411 with 14 home runs, 49 RBIs, 73 runs and 32 stolen bases.
The Cardinals just took the previous game in this series by doubling the Nationals up 4-2.
Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Cardinals, ATS Winner – Nationals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The under has hit in only two of Washington’s last seven games.
The Nationals have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
St. Louis has averaged 25.3 runs + hits + errors over its last 10 contests and 28.6 over its last five.
The Nationals have lost five of their last six games SU while the Cardinals have taken 10 of their last 11.
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