Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Angels Predictions, Picks and MLB Preview – July 18, 2017

Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Angels Preview

Where: Angel Stadium – Anaheim, CA

When: Tuesday, July 18, 2017 – 10:05 PM ET

Line: Washington Nationals (+120) at Los Angeles Angels (-130); total: 9.5 – view all MLB lines

TV Broadcast: MASN 2 / FS-W

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Betting on the Washington Nationals (56-36)

Moneyline: +120

The ever explosive Nationals will be coming off a dominating series. They just ragdolled the Cincinnati Reds for four-straight games, highlighted by scoring a total of 35 runs and 13 homers.

Considering the string of big performances on the plate – 10 or more hits in seven of their last nine games – there’s no reason to think that they can be slowed down by the mediocre Angels. The Nats simply have too much firepower. Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy are 10-for-23 with four homers and 11 RBIs in the past week, and yet, they are not the hottest Washington National as of late. Anthony Rendon, who’s 7-for-11 for three dingers and nine RBIs is still above the two – he should be in the spotlight in the days to come.

The defense, meanwhile, won’t be as imposing. They will have a team newbie in Edwin Jackson, who just signed with the club in June. The 14-year pro could be a little rusty, and seeing that he was just 5-6 with a 5.89 ERA while playing for the San Diego Padres last season, he won’t pose a threat to opposing batters. But whatever, Harper, Murphy, and Rendon ought to get the job done.

Betting on the Los Angeles Angels (46-49)

Moneyline: -130

The Angels will be returning from their one-day break. They had a good win over the Tampa Bay Rays last Sunday, 4-3, but they are still in for a tough grind, given that it was only their fifth win in 14 games.

In trying to attempt to do that climb for the nth time this season, the Angels’ five main hitters – Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Andrelton Simmons, Yunel Escobar, and Kole Calhoun – are taking center stage. There’s no denying that the group isn’t short on talent, with Trout being a two-time MVP, Pujols a future Hall-of-Famer, and the other three having a couple of respectable seasons.

Despite all of that, though, it’s still hard to see them being able to overpower the Nats’ Murderer’s Row-like lineup, especially since they are even struggling just to push the Angels to a .500 record.

Jesse Chavez (5-10, 4.99 ERA) will be the Halos’ starter on the mound, and by looking at his numbers, he’s likely to be punished by the best offense in MLB. He has been blasted by at least one homer in 14 of his last 16 games.

Writer’s Prediction

The Nats (+120) win, 8-4.

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