PREMIUM
Rogers' Afternoon ANNIHILATION >> SIZZLING 37-15 L52 MLB Sides!
(MLB) Arizona vs. Washington,
Money Line: -135.00 Washington (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -135.00 Washington (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Washington Nationals are set to host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of a four-game series on Thursday afternoon. Washington lost 3-0 on Wednesday in a game called due to rain in the sixth. The Dodgers hold the edge in the tiebreaker since they went 5-1 against Washington in regular-season play. Rain is again in the forecast for today and with the Nationals leading the Dodgers by two games in the race for the NL's best record, there is a chance that if the game is rained out, Arizona would have to return to Washington and play Monday. The Dodgers hold the edge in the tiebreaker having gone 5-1 against Washington in regular-season play, so if this game is washed out and the home-field edge in the playoffs between Washington and LA is not settled come Sunday, the poor D'backs would have to return to Washington to play the Nats.
The pitching matchup: Robbie Ray (8-14, 4.77 ERA) takes the hill for the D'backs and Joe Ross (7-5, 3.48 ERA) for the Nationals. Ray was a 12th-round pick by the Nationals in 2010 out of a high school but he was part of the package that Washington traded to Detroit before the 2014 season as the Nationals acquired veteran right-hander Doug Fister. Ray made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 2014. The 2016 season is Ray's first full year as part of a major-league rotation and it has hardly gone smoothly. Arizona is 11-20 (minus-$1133) in his 31 starts in 2016, ranking 4th-worst among all MLB starters. Ross, who spent over two months on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, has been held to three or fewer innings in two outings since coming off the DL. However, with Stephen Strasburg out until at least the NLDS, Ross is expected to get a start in the postseason
The pick: Ray's had a rough season and comes in having allowed at least four ERs in four of his five September starts. Ross needs to get his pitch count up after a pair of abbreviated appearances, hoping to nail down that possible playoff start. The Nats would love to "take care of business" and put the Dodgers away, so a win here is a big deal. The listless D'backs, who currently reside in the NL West ‘basement,' should play the perfect foil. Washington is an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: Robbie Ray (8-14, 4.77 ERA) takes the hill for the D'backs and Joe Ross (7-5, 3.48 ERA) for the Nationals. Ray was a 12th-round pick by the Nationals in 2010 out of a high school but he was part of the package that Washington traded to Detroit before the 2014 season as the Nationals acquired veteran right-hander Doug Fister. Ray made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 2014. The 2016 season is Ray's first full year as part of a major-league rotation and it has hardly gone smoothly. Arizona is 11-20 (minus-$1133) in his 31 starts in 2016, ranking 4th-worst among all MLB starters. Ross, who spent over two months on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, has been held to three or fewer innings in two outings since coming off the DL. However, with Stephen Strasburg out until at least the NLDS, Ross is expected to get a start in the postseason
The pick: Ray's had a rough season and comes in having allowed at least four ERs in four of his five September starts. Ross needs to get his pitch count up after a pair of abbreviated appearances, hoping to nail down that possible playoff start. The Nats would love to "take care of business" and put the Dodgers away, so a win here is a big deal. The listless D'backs, who currently reside in the NL West ‘basement,' should play the perfect foil. Washington is an 8* play.
