The Washington Nationals lived to fight another day as they eked out a season-saving 4-1 win yesterday against the San Francisco Giants. With Gio Gonzalez on the mound for the Nats, can Washington suppress San Francisco’s offense once again? Or will the Giants rebound with aplomb and clinch a spot in the National League Championship Series?
On Friday, the American League Championship Series will begin with the Kansas City Royals and the Baltimore Orioles setting off the fireworks. That series is as compelling as they come. You don’t want to miss our preview of Game 1 of that series, which you can read here.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Washington Nationals vs. San Francisco Giants Betting Preview
Series Schedule & Results
Game 1 – Friday, October 3, San Francisco Giants 3 vs. Washington Nationals 2
Game 2 – Saturday, October 4, San Francisco Giants 2 vs. Washington Nationals 1
Game 3 – Sunday, October 6, Washington Nationals 4 vs. San Francisco Giants 1
Game 4 – Monday, October 7, Washington Nationals (-118) vs. San Francisco Giants (+108); total: 6.5 – view all MLB lines
Game 5* – Wednesday, October 9, San Francisco Giants vs. Washington Nationals
*If necessary
Betting on the Washington Nationals
[sc:MLB240banner ]Washington found a way to extend their season yesterday. They will have to do it again later with Gio Gonzalez (10-10, 3.57 ERA) on the mound a day after Doug Fister issued seven scoreless innings to lead the Nats to a 4-1 victory.
Gonzalez, who is set to make his first postseason start in Game 4, is coming off a great run in September, finishing the month with a 4-1 record and a 2.48 ERA in five starts. That includes his performance on September 25 against the New York Mets, wherein he pitched seven innings of one-hit and no-run baseball, while striking out a career-high 12 batters.
The Nationals’ offense, which was held down by San Francisco’s great pitching to just three runs over the first two games of the series, finally broke through yesterday with four runs. Bryce Harper hit his second homer of the postseason, while Anthony Rendon continued to hit well, going 2-for-4 to improve to 7-for-15 (.467) in the playoffs. However, both players haven’t hit well against Ryan Vogelsong, combining for a career batting average of just .167 against the Giants pitcher.
Other players must step up for the Nats, particularly Ian Desmond and Adam LaRoche, whose bats have been missing thus far this postseason. However, they can get their rhythm later opposite Vogelsong, against whom Desmond is 4-for-10 (.400) while LaRoche is 3-for-10 (.300). In addition, Denard Span is 5-for-13 with a .692 SLG and 1.077 OPS against Vogelsong.
Betting on the San Francisco Giants
After letting Washington escape with a win yesterday, the Giants must face the consequence of starting Ryan Vogelsong, who has been unsteady down the stretch of the regular season.
Vogelsong went winless in his last five starts, going 0-4 to go along with a high 5.53 ERA. The Giants’ offense didn’t help him though, as Vogelsong only received three runs over that stretch. To be more specific, Vogelsong was third lowest with 3.66 RS/9 during the regular season among Giants starters.
However, Vogelsong has a solid track record in the postseason and if he could flash the same fine form he had in October of 2012, where he posted a 3-0 record with a 1.09 ERA in four starts, then the Giants could keep the game close before their reliable bullpen takes the mound.
The Giants’ relievers, who had a collective 3.01 ERA in the postseason, played a large part in San Francisco’s 2-1 18-inning victory in Game 2. In that game, six Giants relievers combined to keep Washington scoreless from the seventh inning up to the end. The most notable of them was Yusmeiro Petit, who pitched six innings of no-run relief job. He’s unlikely to pitch later though as he continues to rest his arm, making it possible for Tim Lincecum (10-9, 4.67 ERA) to get his first appearance this postseason, albeit as a reliever.
San Francisco’s hitters don’t have a great record against Gio Gonzalez. The Giants are hitting just .181 versus the lefty, although Brandon Crawford is 2-for-6 (.333) to go along with a homer and two RBIs. Furthermore, the Giants are 3-1 in their last four games against a left-handed starter.
Writer’s Prediction
If the Nationals are to be eliminated in this series, it won’t happen on the road. Washington wins, 4-2, as a -118 favorite. Create a betting account now, while odds are still available.
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