Dodgers at Nationals Pick
The Los Angeles Dodgers and host Washington Nationals open a three-game series Friday night at 7:05PM EST.
Oddsmakers at sports book Bovada.lv have put the Dodgers as a -157 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Nationals are a +137 underdog and the over-under is set at 9.5.
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Pitching for Los Angeles will be Alex Wood (14-3, 2.81 ERA), while Washington is going with Edwin Jackson (5-6, 3.88). Wood carries a 1.08 ERA with 136 strikeouts in 134 1/3 innings. He gave up five earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and three walks over five innings in a 6-5 home loss to the Rockies his last start. Wood has a 2.38 ERA over 11 road starts. Jackson has a 1.44 WHIP with 47 strikeouts in 63 innings. He allowed five earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and three walks over 3 1/3 innings of a 5-4 home loss to the Phillies his last time out. Jackson has a 4.20 ERA in 30 home innings.
The Dodgers are 94-52 overall and 42-29 on the road, while the Nationals are 89-57 and 44-30 at home. Washington has won two of three in the seasons series and the total has gone under all three times.
Los Angeles snapped an 11-game losing skip at the rival Giants, winning 5-3 and 4-1 on Tuesday and Wednesday after dropping the series opener. In Wednesday’s game, Cody Bellinger was 2-for-4 with a home run plus a triple for two runs and three RBIs plus a walk. Yasiel Puig was 2-for-4 with a double. Yu Darvish gave up three hits and struck out five while walking none over seven shutout innings to get the victory. The Nationals avoided a home sweep by defeating the Braves by a count of 5-2 Thursday night. Victor Robles was 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs and an RBI to lead the offense. Adam Lind was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs. Jayson Werth went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Tanner Roark gave up two earned runs over six innings to get the win, while Sean Doolittle picked up his 18th save.
The troubles for the Dodgers seem to have been put to bed, although a trip to the East Coast isn’t exactly ideal. This is a tough road series, but one that will prepare Los Angeles for the postseason. Wood, although he’s struggled his last two starts, is simply a better pitcher than Jackson. Certainly not always the case, but here you can side with the pitcher that has more upside. We think Los Angeles will add to its win streak.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES DODGERS -157