The New York Yankees make a rare appearance at Nationals Park on Tuesday, as the Washington Nationals host a brief two-game series between both teams. The Yankees have won just once in their last six games. Will a game in Washington help improve that trend? Or will the Nationals, winners of three-straight games, add to New York’s woes?
In another ball game on Tuesday, the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets play the first game of their four-game set. Click here for a detailed preview of that game.
[sc:MLBArticles ]New York Yankees vs. Washington Nationals Preview
Where: Nationals Park, Washington
When: Tuesday, May 19, 2015, 8:00 PM ET
Line: New York Yankees (+120) at Washington Nationals (-130); total: 7.5 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the New York Yankees
[sc:MLB240banner ]After back-to-back wins in his previous two starts, Nathan Eovaldi (3-1, 4.14 ERA) was sent back down to earth in the Yankees’ 4-2 loss against Tampa Bay on May 12. In that game, Eovaldi allowed four runs on six hits before being removed off the mound in the seventh inning. Eovaldi has been vulnerable at the mound this season, even giving up four homers over his last four outings. That doesn’t sound soothing for the Yankees, who are about to face the hard-hitting Nationals.
With that said, the Yankees need their offense to step up in their upcoming game versus Washington. The under is 3-0 in Eovaldi’s last three road starts. Runs, however, have been hard to come by for the Yankees, who averaged just 1.83 runs over their last six games. The Yankees are coming off a 6-0 loss against Kansas City on Sunday.
The Bronx Bombers are counting on Mark Teixeira’s bat to contribute on Tuesday. Teixeira left the game against Kansas City with a bruised big toe but X-rays on his toes returned negative.With a day of rest, Teixeira should be ready to play Tuesday. The switch-hitting first baseman hit .429 (9-for-21) with a homer in the Yankees’ past seven games. He is .313 (5-for-16) lifetime against Washington starter Gio Gonzalez.
Alex Rodriguez, meanwhile, is .273 (3-for-11) in the same career matchup.
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Betting on the Washington Nationals
Unlike the Yankees, Washington is enjoying a robust offense that has scored 24 runs over the team’s last three games. That includes the Nationals’ 10-0 win over San Diego on Sunday. Based on starter Gio Gonzalez’s (3-2. 4.25 ERA) most recent start, it would be essential for Washington to sustain its offensive onslaught when it faces the Yankees on Tuesday.
Gonzalez was rocked hard by Arizona’s hitters on May 13, albeit in a 9-6 Washington victory, as he gave up five earned runs on nine hits in just five innings of work. The need for the offense to provide ample run support for Gonzalez is further magnified by the fact that the lefty has struggled in his career against the Bronx Bombers. In fact, Gonzalez is 1-5 with a 4.50 ERA in six career starts opposite the AL East New York team.
But if Bryce Harper, Denard Span, and Yunel Escobar will hit as good as they have of late, then Gonzalez will not have to worry that much about run support. Harper is simply a beast at the plate these days, as the 22-year-old outfielder is hitting .385/.508/.904 with eight homers and 18 RBIs thus far this month. Span and Escobar, meanwhile, is 12-for-26 (.462) and 12-for-32 (.375), respectively over the last seven Washington games.
Washington is 4-0 in its last four home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Washington (-130) wins, 7-4.
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