After the longest game in MLB postseason history (by time) in Washington, the Giants now lead their National League Division Series over the top-seeded Nationals two games to none. On Monday, they have a chance to sweep a series against the team that came in favored to win not just the best-of-five but the World Series, while Madison Bumgarner on the mound.
Can the NL-best Washington Nationals avoid elimination? Read on as we preview this pressure-filled game in the MLB postseason. For more on postseason baseball action, check out our preview for the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals NLDS Game 3, also on Monday.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Washington Nationals vs. San Francisco Giants NLDS Game 3 Betting Preview
Series Schedule & Results
Game 1 – Friday, October 3, San Francisco Giants 3 at Washington Nationals 2
Game 2 – Saturday, October 4, San Francisco Giants 2 at Washington Nationals 1
Game 3 – Monday, October 6, Washington Nationals (+130) at San Francisco Giants (-140); total 6.0 – view all MLB lines
Game 4* – Tuesday, October 7, Washington Nationals vs. San Francisco Giants
Game 5* – Thursday, October 9, San Francisco Giants vs. Washington Nationals
*If necessary
Betting on the Washington Nationals
If there’s a pitcher who can bail the Nationals out of their current predicament, it’s Doug Fister. He finished sixth in the majors with a 2.41 ERA in the regular season, regularly pounding the strike zone with a 4.08 strikeout to walk ratio.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Although Fister will be stepping into enemy territory come Monday, he brings the experience of a postseason veteran. He is 3-2 with a 2.98 ERA in eight previous postseason starts (with the Tigers), one of which was in San Francisco in the 2012 World Series. He limited the Giants to an earned run on four hits over six innings in a 2-0 loss. Fister met the Giants again on June 10, pitching seven scoreless innings for a 2-1 win.
From the bullpen, closer Drew Storen blew a save in Game 2 to force extra innings. It was reminiscent of the Nationals’ 2012 NLDS Game 5 loss against the Cardinals when Storen surrendered four runs to blow a two-run lead with two outs. They can’t afford another collapse, thus having a starter of Fister’s caliber will be crucial for the Nationals. He can pitch for complete games when he’s on, as evidenced by his nine-inning shutout of the Miami Marlins on September 26.
With how this series has gone, the run support will be few and far in between. Washington batters have only hit .160 in the two games played in this series. Adam LaRoche, who leads the Nats in home runs (26) and RBIs (91) has gone 1-for-10 in the series. Yet, Anthony Rendon was hot in Game 2 when he went 4-for-7 with an RBI, while Asdrubal Cabrera and Bryce Harper each hit a solo homer in Game 1.
Rendon, Cabrera and Harper combine for a .471 career batting average against Bumgarner.
The total has gone under in the Nationals’ last four games.
Betting on the San Francisco Giants
To close off the series, the Giants are turning to their ace, Madison Bumgarner, who pitched a complete game shutout of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Wild Card game on October 1. He allowed only four hits, issued a walk and struck out 10 against the Pirates.
In his lone home start against Washington this year, MadBum surrendered two earned runs on eight hits over seven innings, while getting only one run of support in a 2-1 loss.
Meanwhile, the bullpen was solid over 10 innings of relief duty deep into extra innings on Saturday. Yusmiero Petit left with the win after he pitched for six innings, allowing one hit while striking out seven.
However, despite solid pitching, the Giants have had trouble at the plate. San Francisco batters are only hitting .154 against Washington in the series. Yet, they have a bright spot in Buster Posey, who has gone 4-for-10 with an RBI three games into the postseason. Posey led the Giants in batting average (.311), RBIs (89), home runs (22) and OPS (.854) this season. Yet, he has hit only 1-for-6, a homer, against Washington starter Doug Fister.
Meanwhile, Brandon Belt, whose go-ahead homer at the top of the 18th won Game 2, has yet to face Fister in his career.
The Giants are 1-4 in their last five home games against Washington, but they have now won 10-consecutive postseason games (an NL record).
Writer’s Prediction
The Nationals get to Bumgarner early to stay alive in the series. Create a betting account now to catch all of the remaining MLB postseason games.
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