Nationals vs Giants MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
The Washington Nationals showed why they are the best team in baseball, erupting for 14 runs on 21 hits against the San Francisco Giants on Monday.
Now the two teams will close out the three-game series on Wednesday afternoon at AT&T Park.
WAS: Stephen Strasburg (13-5, 2.90 ERA) vs. SFO: Tim Lincecum (6-12, 5.35 ERA)
Date/Time: Wednesday, August 15, 12:45 PM PT
Venue: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
Broadcast: MLB Network (Regional), MASN2 (Washington), CSN-Bay Area (San Francisco)
Spread: OFF
Over/Under: OFF
The Nats made the Giants normally stellar rotation look like batting practice in that game, as they peppered Ryan Vogelsong, who came in with an NL-best 2.27 ERA.
The win gave Washington its ninth victory in 10 contests, as they opened up a 5 1/2-game division lead for the first time since July 3, 2005.
They will try to build on that momentum by sending their No. 1 ace to the hill on Wednesday.
Stephen Strasburg has pitched lights out in his in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, and the Nats recent aggressiveness to start him every time in the rotation, as well as bumping up his pitch counts, reflects their confidence in Strasburg’s health.
The 24 year old right-handerwas starting to show some signs of fatigue in July, but he has bounced back with just one run allowed in two August starts. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
San Francisco will counter with Tim Lincecum, who until recently, had not had near the season that most would have expected. Including being shelled by the Nationals for nine hits and eight runs in a 3.1 inning disaster back in July 3.
The good news though, is that the two-time Cy Young award winner is starting to look more like the Lincecum of old, and since the All-Star break, he has 38 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings in this span, with 14 strikeouts and just three home runs allowed.
The 28-year old righty tossed his third consecutive quality start Friday, but was unable to earn his third win in a row, as the offense was held scoreless in a 3-0 loss.
Lincecum went seven strong innings in that one, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks, but was charged with his 12th loss of the season.
Those improvements are not good news to a Washington lineup that despite rattling off some big run totals as of late, are ranked just ninth with a .259 collective average.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Washington- This will definitely be a pitching duel, but I can’t bring myself to go against Strasburg as he chases this year’s Cy Young honors.
