PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* MLB PLAY OF THE DAY >> EARLY GAME!
(MLB) Washington vs. Baltimore,
Money Line: -133.00 Washington (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -133.00 Washington (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: Memorial Day features the opener of a three-game interleague series pitting Beltway rivals the Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles. The Nats come to Camden Yards with a pitching staff operating at peak efficiency, allowing an average of 2.3 runs over a recent 5-1 run that has Washington within one game of the first place Atlanta Braves in the NL East at 29-20. The Nats opened their 10-game road trip by sweeping three from the Miami Marlins over the weekend, capped by a 5-2 win on Sunday, improving to 17-8 on the road this season. The last thing the 17-36 Baltimore Orioles want to see is a good pitching staff. Baltimore has been searching for offense for the better part of the 2018 season. The Orioles did score three run sin the first inning against Tampa on Sunday but that was all they could do, as the Rays rallied for an 8-3 victory. They lost two of three to the Rays over the weekend, scoring just six runs in the process. Baltimore is averaging 3.91 RPG (27th), while batting only .232 (25th).
The pitching matchup: Lefty Gio Gonzalez (5-2, 2.38 ERA) goes for Washington and Alex Cobb (1-6, 7.32 ERA) will start of Baltimore. Gonzalez has been steady all season for the Nats, surrendering two or fewer earned runs in nine of his first 10 starts. He is coming off a 10-2 win over San Diego last Monday in which he allowed two runs and two hits in seven frames. The seven innings matched a season high. Gonzalez lost his lone start against Baltimore last season, getting ripped for six runs on seven hits - three HRs - in six innings. That's hardly new, as his 1-6 with a 4.40 ERA against the Orioles in his career. Cobb spent his first six seasons with the Tampa Bat Rays but agreed to a four-year, $57 million contract during spring training with the Orioles. This will be Cobb's his ninth start, as he tries to turn around an ugly beginning with his new team. To put it kindly, Cobb is still trying to find his footing with his new team. He followed up his first win (on May 18) with another poor outing on Wednesday. He was ripped for six runs on eight hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings to suffer the loss, ending a string of four straight starts allowing three or fewer earned runs. Cobb is making his first career appearance against Washington but is 9-4 with a 2.50 ERA in 16 interleague starts.
The pick: The teams split four meetings last season and will play six times in 2018. At the moment, it's hard to see Baltimore outplaying Washington in the series this year. The Orioles have a slugger in Manny Machado (15 HRs & 44 RBI) to match rival Bryce Harper (leads NL in HRs with 16) but they are not getting much production from the rest of the lineup, while scoring three or fewer runs in 10 of the last 12 games. Gonzalez has been good all season and I'm not much worried about his poor lifetime mark against Baltimore, as he's being opposed by Cobb. He has allowed 67 hits in just 39 1/3 innings, giving him a 1.93 WHIP and .379 BAA to go along with that ugly 7.32 ERA. Make Washington a 10* play.
The pitching matchup: Lefty Gio Gonzalez (5-2, 2.38 ERA) goes for Washington and Alex Cobb (1-6, 7.32 ERA) will start of Baltimore. Gonzalez has been steady all season for the Nats, surrendering two or fewer earned runs in nine of his first 10 starts. He is coming off a 10-2 win over San Diego last Monday in which he allowed two runs and two hits in seven frames. The seven innings matched a season high. Gonzalez lost his lone start against Baltimore last season, getting ripped for six runs on seven hits - three HRs - in six innings. That's hardly new, as his 1-6 with a 4.40 ERA against the Orioles in his career. Cobb spent his first six seasons with the Tampa Bat Rays but agreed to a four-year, $57 million contract during spring training with the Orioles. This will be Cobb's his ninth start, as he tries to turn around an ugly beginning with his new team. To put it kindly, Cobb is still trying to find his footing with his new team. He followed up his first win (on May 18) with another poor outing on Wednesday. He was ripped for six runs on eight hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings to suffer the loss, ending a string of four straight starts allowing three or fewer earned runs. Cobb is making his first career appearance against Washington but is 9-4 with a 2.50 ERA in 16 interleague starts.
The pick: The teams split four meetings last season and will play six times in 2018. At the moment, it's hard to see Baltimore outplaying Washington in the series this year. The Orioles have a slugger in Manny Machado (15 HRs & 44 RBI) to match rival Bryce Harper (leads NL in HRs with 16) but they are not getting much production from the rest of the lineup, while scoring three or fewer runs in 10 of the last 12 games. Gonzalez has been good all season and I'm not much worried about his poor lifetime mark against Baltimore, as he's being opposed by Cobb. He has allowed 67 hits in just 39 1/3 innings, giving him a 1.93 WHIP and .379 BAA to go along with that ugly 7.32 ERA. Make Washington a 10* play.
