The Washington Nationals managed to work themselves out of a bases loaded with one out situation at the bottom of the ninth last night to claim the opener of a four-game set with the Giants 4-2. I think we're getting a great price on the Nats here in Game 2.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Nats hand the ball to Max Scherzer (10-6, 2.92 ERA) who has allowed a total of four earned runs in his last five starts while logging seven or more innings four times. The Giants counter with Jeff Samardzija (9-6, 4.22) who has allowed four runs or more in five of his last six starts and a total of 10 in 10 2/3 innings in his last two combined.

2. The Reeling Giants - San Francisco entered the All Star break with the best record in baseball, but it has won just two of its past 10 games.

3. X-Factor - Washington's Trea Turner was 2-for-4 with a walk last night and he's 8-for-17 with a pair of doubles and a triple in his past four games.

Selection: This is a play on the Washington Nationals (8*)