The Washington Nationals take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Our MLB odds series has our Nationals Dodgers prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Nationals Dodgers.
The Los Angeles Dodgers just lost two of three games at home to the San Diego Padres. That hasn't happened often in recent years. The Dodgers blew a 7-3 lead on Friday night and lost in extra innings. That loss, more than Sunday's relatively ordinary 6-3 loss, caused Los Angeles to drop the weekend series against San Diego. The Dodgers haven't been bad to start the season, but they just as certainly haven't been overwhelming. We're still waiting to see this team hit high gear and go on a 10-day or two-week tear when it absolutely shreds everyone and everything in its way. It is only April 15, so no one should be too alarmed, but it's very clear the Dodgers haven't come close to their full potential.
It is worth remembering that after the first 72 games of last season, the Dodgers were just 39-33 and were trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks in the division standings. Then Los Angeles went on an extended flamethrower-level run and buried the rest of the National League West in the second half of the season. It's true that the Dodgers can go 25-5 in a 30-game stretch and make it seem routine. The team is that talented. However, for a team which has plans on winning the World Series, the best way to go through a season is to steadily excel so that there isn't too much pressure on players in August or September. Being good in the first half of a season will enable Dave Roberts to keep his guys fresh and healthy instead of overextending them. The sooner the Dodgers go on a winning binge, the more they can manage their pitching staff and not face some potentially tricky late-summer situations that could leave them compromised for October.
Here are the Nationals-Dodgers MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Nationals-Dodgers Odds
Washington Nationals: +1.5 (+130)
Los Angeles Dodgers: -1.5 (-156)
Over: 8.5 (+100)
Under: 8.5 (-122)
How To Watch Nationals vs Dodgers
TV: MASN (Nationals) / SportsNet LA (Dodgers) / MLB Extra Innings
Stream: MLB.tv
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET/7:10 p.m. PT
*Watch Nationals-Dodgers LIVE on fuboTV (click for a free trial)*
Why The Nationals Could Cover The Spread
The Nationals had a 6-1 lead over the Oakland A's on Sunday before giving up the lead. Obviously, the fact that the Nats blew the lead isn't good, but the point to make is that Washington's pitching had been really strong before that disastrous six-run sixth by the A's. In the 24 innings before that calamitous sixth inning on Sunday, the Nats held Oakland to four runs. That is superb pitching. One inning got away from Washington over the weekend, but the pitching staff put in a lot of good work.
The Dodgers have not hit well the past few games. They got a two-run homer from Max Muncy on Sunday, and not much else, in a three-run performance against the Padres. They were not especially potent on Saturday, either, even though they beat San Diego with strong pitching. The Nats might be catching the Dodgers at the right time.
Why The Dodgers Could Cover The Spread
The Dodgers have not hit well the past two games. They now have Tyler Glasnow on the mound against a Washington team which just lost two of three to the Oakland A's. This game feels like a bloobath in the making.
Final Nationals-Dodgers Prediction & Pick
Over the course of a long Major League Baseball season, you will find some games where you want to ride the escalator, meaning that you make bets at multiple (rising) spreads. This is one such game. Take the Dodgers at the regular (listed) run line and then go for some alternative speads. Take them at -2.5 runs and, if offered, 3.5. You can stack some winning tickets and get some better price points. If the Dodgers win this game by five or six runs, you could make a solid pile of money. It is something to consider.
Final Nationals-Dodgers Prediction & Pick: Dodgers -1.5
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