Washington Nationals (21-19) vs San Diego Padres (18-21)
With the Braves struggling the Nationals have closed some of the gap in the National League East. They are now down down just a game in the division despite the fact they have struggled over the last five against Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.
Thursday May 16
Petco Park – San Diego, CA
10:10PM
Probable Starters: WAS: Stephen Strasburg (R) vs. SD; Edinson Volquez (R)
Moneyline: Washington -141, San Diego +131 at TopBet
O/U: 7.7
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Washington
This was supposed to be a “dream season” where they built on last year’s MLB best regular season but things have been more of a scuffle the last month after a hot start, made no easier by the fact that OF Bryce Harper has been in and out of the lineup due to injury lately forcing some questions whether his style of play is sustainable.
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In Harper and starter Stephen Strasburg the Nats have two of the most talked about players in the Majors and you have to think that the scrutiny must wear on both the players as well as the team.
Strasburg has been nowhere near as dominant as expected this season and has a 1-5 record to show for it – if he is your team’s worst starter it is really hard to complain though.
He is walking more batters while giving up more hits and striking out fewer – a nasty trifecta.
There is a lot of concern about his health because he just doesn’t seem right. He is killing bettors too as one of the more hyped players of recent.
San Diego
San Diego just swept a two game interleague series against the Baltimore Orioles and is creeping towards the .500 mark in a very bunchy National League West. They are still one of the lightest hitting teams in the Majors but their pitching overall has been solid and with slugging 3B Chase Headley back in the lineup they may start scoring more runs. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
His batting average is right where it was during last year’s MVP calibre season so maybe the power numbers will be revealed soon too. He missed all of the spring so even though he rehabbed his slower start was likely to be expected.
The talent has always been there for Padres starter Edinson Volquez, as evidenced by a recent stretch of three straight wins where he gave up just 5 ERs over the three starts (the run was stopped his last time out). Still despite that recent success he walks too way many batters and his ERA is right where you would expect at over 5.
His numbers against Washington are about the same and the only reason to think about backing him and the Padres tonight is that Volquez has always enjoyed pitching at home. It doesn’t bring him to ace status but the numbers are significantly improved.
Strasburg may be off so far this season but his current ERA is actually slightly lower than it was last season when there were no complaints other than the innings limit shackles placed on him.
His struggles this year only increase the value of Washington in this one, making them a little too hard to ignore for me tonight.
Their lineup is much better and the warmth of SoCal and return home may be just what the doctor ordered to snap him out of his funk.
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Washington 6 – San Diego 4
