The set-up: Washington will be eager to return to form here. It came to San Diego on a 9-2 run, but the Padres have rallied in the late innings over the first two games of this series, including a 5-4 walk off win last night. Enough is enough! With their "ace" Max Scherzer going tonight, I think the visitors bounce back in Game 3. The home side counters with Eric Lauer.

The pitchers: Scherzer (3-5, 3.06 ERA) has a 3-2, 2.37 ERA record over ten starts vs. the Padres.

Lauer (5-4, 4.18) has been sharp of late and he's had decent success vs. the Nationals throughout his career, but I simply feel that he's in the wrong place at the wrong time here.

The pick: Take it for what you will as well, but Washington is already 4-1 (+3 units) this season after having lost six or seven of its last eight, while San Diego is still just 12-29 (-12 units) as a home underdog in the +125 to +175 range. I expect Scherzer and the focused Nationals to find a way to get the job done here.

Washington Nationals

10* play