PREMIUM
Rogers' Sunday Night ESPN SHOWDOWN >> 5-0 Saturday! B2B SWEEPS in MLB!
(MLB) Washington vs. LA Dodgers,
Money Line: -170.00 LA Dodgers (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -170.00 LA Dodgers (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Los Angeles Dodgers have won five straight NL West titles and last season took Houston to a Game 7 in the World Series before losing. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals have won four of the last six NL East titles, winning between between 95 and 98 games in those four division-winning seasons. The two teams entered the 2018 season as the favorites to win the National League pennant. However, April hasn't exactly followed the script for either club. The Nats opened their three-game weekend series with the Dodgers at 9-10 and the Dodgers checked in at 8-9. Washington won 5-2 on Friday, while LA rebounded with a 4-0 win last night.The two NL 'heavyweights' will square off tonight on ESPN in the rubber match of their three-game series, with the winner beginning the new week on Monday at .500 and the loser at two games under that mark. The Dodgers have won five of their last six contests overall, while the Nats are 3-2 on their nine-game road trip (Washington heads to San Francisco for three games beginning Monday).
The pitching matchup: Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 3.86 ERA) takes the mound for Washington and goes up against LA left-hander Alex Wood (0-2, 3.91 ERA). Hellickson made his Nationals debut on Monday against the New York Mets but did not factor in the decision after giving up two runs over 4 2/3 innings. He was signed to a minor-league contract in March after pitching for both Baltimore and Philadelphia last season. Hellickson is 69-69 (4.12 ERA) as he begins his 9th big-league season and 0-1 with a 6.88 ERA in four career starts versus the Dodgers. Wood bounced back from a rocky outing against Oakland by giving up just one unearned run and two hits over 5 1/3 innings versus San Diego this past Tuesday. He is still is seeking his first victory of 2018 despite limiting batters to a .186 average and recording 22 strikeouts against one walk. Wood has gone 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 career starts against Washington, including six scoreless innings at Nationals Park on Sept. 15.
The pick: As far as primetime games before a national audience go, it is hard to do much better than the two best teams in baseball over the last six years. Los Angeles began the 2018 season with only four victories for its worst 13-game start in 24 years behind a mostly lethargic offense. However, the bats have 'woken up' with LA winning five of six. The Dodgers were a MLB-best 57-24 at Dodger Stadium in 2017 but are just 5-6 at home to open 2018. Look for a "return to form" shortly for LA and the Dodgers begin just that by taking this final game of their weekend series with the Nats. After all, the Nationals are only 7-13 against the Dodgers since the start of the 2015 season and Jeremy Hellickson isn't exactly a "stopper!" Make the Dodgers an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 3.86 ERA) takes the mound for Washington and goes up against LA left-hander Alex Wood (0-2, 3.91 ERA). Hellickson made his Nationals debut on Monday against the New York Mets but did not factor in the decision after giving up two runs over 4 2/3 innings. He was signed to a minor-league contract in March after pitching for both Baltimore and Philadelphia last season. Hellickson is 69-69 (4.12 ERA) as he begins his 9th big-league season and 0-1 with a 6.88 ERA in four career starts versus the Dodgers. Wood bounced back from a rocky outing against Oakland by giving up just one unearned run and two hits over 5 1/3 innings versus San Diego this past Tuesday. He is still is seeking his first victory of 2018 despite limiting batters to a .186 average and recording 22 strikeouts against one walk. Wood has gone 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 career starts against Washington, including six scoreless innings at Nationals Park on Sept. 15.
The pick: As far as primetime games before a national audience go, it is hard to do much better than the two best teams in baseball over the last six years. Los Angeles began the 2018 season with only four victories for its worst 13-game start in 24 years behind a mostly lethargic offense. However, the bats have 'woken up' with LA winning five of six. The Dodgers were a MLB-best 57-24 at Dodger Stadium in 2017 but are just 5-6 at home to open 2018. Look for a "return to form" shortly for LA and the Dodgers begin just that by taking this final game of their weekend series with the Nats. After all, the Nationals are only 7-13 against the Dodgers since the start of the 2015 season and Jeremy Hellickson isn't exactly a "stopper!" Make the Dodgers an 8* play.
