The Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles will finally make up for the one-game postponement during their four-game Beltway Series last month tonight in Washington. The AL East-leading O’s send their impressive rookie right-hander Kevin Gausman up against the NL East-topping Nats’ breakout second-year starter, Tanner Roark, in what should be an intriguing pitcher’s duel.
From the East Coast to all the way to the West Coast, the MLB has another intriguing lineup of games in store today. Check out the five best ones in our daily MLB Free Picks column, and read on for the belated conclusion of this year’s Beltway Series.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals, Major League Baseball, Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
When: Monday, August 4, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Baltimore Orioles (+128) at Washington Nationals (-138); total 7.0 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles’ offense is still stuck in a post-All-Star Game rut. The O’s are second from bottom in the entire MLB in batting average (.202), and have produced just 3.3 runs/game, which is a big reason why the total has gone under in eight of their last 10 games.
DH Nelson Cruz, in particular, is struggling mightily from the plate. The big slugger is batting just .110 over his last 20 games.
[sc:MLB240banner ]But despite their slugger’s prolonged slump, the O’s are still a healthy 10-6 post-ASG and 7-3 in their last 10 games thanks to their ability to hit the long ball. Baltimore has hit 17 homers in its last 16 games, with Adam Jones accounting for five of those bombs. 3B Manny Machado is one of the rare players swinging a hot bat, as he went 7-for-12 in their previous series against the Seattle Mariners.
With Baltimore’s lineup lacking runs, the O’s will look to young Kevin Gausman (5-3, 3.70 ERA) for another strong start. The 23-year old has helped his team win seven of the last nine games which he’s started. In his latest start, he went seven strong innings and gave up just three earned runs as he outdueled the Los Angeles Angels’ Garrett Richards in a 4-3 O’s win.
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Betting on the Washington Nationals
In a starting rotation that’s ranked second in the entire MLB in ERA (3.24), it’s the unheralded Tanner Roark (11-6, 2.74 ERA) who’s emerged as its most reliable starter. The second-year pitcher has gone exactly seven innings and has given up exactly one in each of his last four starts, all Washington wins. Stretching out to his last 10 starts, the Nats have gone 8-2 behind Roark’s 2.20 ERA.
Washington is coming off consecutive shutouts of the Philadelphia Phillies to split a four-game home series. The Nats offense, led by leadoff hitter Denard Span, came to life as they won the two games by a combined 15 runs to none.
Span continued his amazing hot streak with four more hits in those two games. Post-ASG, Span is batting .435, with 14 runs, eight stolen bases and an on-base percentage of .520.
With Span perpetually on base, the Nats’ other hot batters, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon, will get their share of chances to bat him in. Harper (seven for his last 24) is finally getting going after a slow return from injury, while Rendon went 5-for-13 with five RBI’s in the last three games of their series against the Phillies.
The total has gone under in the Nats’ last seven games.
Writer’s Prediction
Roark and Nats blow by the offensively-challenged Baltimore O’s. Take Washington (-138) to win tonight.
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