Washington Nationals vs. Boston Red Sox Predictions, Picks and Preview – April 15, 2015

The Washington Nationals are yet to live up to their preseason hype. Dubbed as the favorites to win the World Series back in the offseason, the Nationals look to return to the win column after back-to-back defeats against the Boston Red Sox. Read on for more about this game below. You can also see our preview of Game 3 of the Tigers-Pirates series here.
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Washington Nationals vs. Boston Red Sox Preview

Where: Fenway Park, Boston

When: Wednesday, April 15, 1:35 PM ET

Line: Washington Nationals (+116) vs. Boston Red Sox (-126); total: 8.5– view all MLB lines

Betting on the Washington Nationals

The Nationals were once again left scratching their heads after suffering another defeat on Tuesday, losing to Boston, 8-7. Washington looks to avoid a series sweep at the hands of the Red Sox today, as the Nats give the ball to Gio Gonzalez. They are 4-1 in Gonzalez’s last five starts after a team loss.

[sc:MLB240banner ]Today’s matchup against Boston marks Gonzalez’s second start of the season after taking a loss in his 2015 debut on April 10. In that game, Gonzalez pitched for 6 1/3 innings, picking up three earned runs and walking four batters in a 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Gonzalez is 2-0 with a 4.84 ERA at Fenway Park.

Hopefully for Gonzalez, he’ll not be weighed down by Washington’s atrocious defense that has already committed 10 errors this season.

Washington’s offense, meanwhile, seems to be finally out of its early season funk after managing seven runs on Tuesday. After averaging just 1.8 runs in their first five games of the season, the Nationals have put up an average of 4.7 runs over the succeeding three games.

Washington’s hitters can keep it going when they face Boston starter Wade Miley, against whom the current Nationals lineup has hit a collective .325. Ryan Zimmerman, who went hitless in the previous game against Boston, is 4-for-7 (.571) with three RBIs in his career opposite Miley. First baseman Tyler Moore has also hit well in limited at bats against Miley, going 3-for-8 with a homer versus the lefty starter.

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Betting on the Boston Red Sox

Unlike Washington, the Red Sox are waxing hot in the early going of this season. They’re 6-2 to start the season and have a chance later today against Washington to complete their first series sweep of the year. However, the Red Sox might play the series finale without Pablo Sandoval, who suffered a left foot contusion in the fourth inning of Tuesday’s victory over Washington.

Aside from Sandoval, who went 2-for-4 in the first game of the series, another Red Sox in Xander Bogaerts is also labelled day-to-day with a sore right knee. Bogaerts is hitting a team-leading .433 in six games played thus far this season.

But even without those two players, Boston’s offense remains dangerous as it still has the likes of Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez. Pedroia is 4-for-7 in the series with Washington. Ramirez, though, is batting a poor 1-for-7. Pedroia and Ramirez have been silent in the past against Gonzalez (4-for-25 combined), which means other Red Sox hitters are pressed to deliver at the plate against Washington.

David Ortiz is 3-for-9 with a homer in the series and has had some success against Gonzalez, going 4-for-13 in his career against the Nats’ lefty.

On the mound for the Red Sox is Wade Miley. Miley allowed two runs on four hits and struck out six batters in 5 1/3 innings of work in his season debut, a 6-5 Boston win over the New York Yankees on April 11. He didn’t pick up the win in that game, though. Miley’s teams are 3-1 in his last four starts dating back to last year.

Writer’s Prediction

Washington (+116) wins, 7-4.
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