It's time to continue our MLB odds series with a Nationals-Rockies prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Nationals Rockies.

The Washington Nationals are in the thick of the National League wild card chase. They don't have a winning record, but neither do the other eight teams in a very tightly bunched group of ballclubs pushing for those two playoff spots. The St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres are at .500 but not above it. Those two teams lead a collection of nine teams vying for a postseason spot. The Nationals need to hammer the Rockies and other inferior teams if they want to make a push for October. Friday night at Coors Field, the Nats took care of business in an 11-5 win. They hope to keep the momentum going in the second game of this weekend series on Saturday.

Nationals-Rockies Projected Starters

Mitchell Parker vs. Cal Quantrill

Mitchell Parker (5-3) has a 3.06 ERA. The young pitcher has been part of a noticeable improvement in Washington's starting rotation this season. Parker has pitched well in general, but what is even more notable about his season to date is that he has performed well against the tougher teams and batting orders in the National League. Parker has turned in good starts this season against the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers. If a young pitcher can do well against those teams, that says a lot about his talent and potential and how he carries himself as a professional. Parker is one of the main reasons Washington is close to .500 instead of being buried 15 or 20 games under .500 at this point in the season. This is why the Nationals are in a much better place relative to last season.

Last Start: Sunday, June 16 versus the Miami Marlins: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 0 BB, 4 K

2024 Road Splits: 7 starts, 36 IP, 34 H, 19 R, 2 HR, 13 BB, 26 K

Cal Quantrill (6-5) has a 3.43 ERA. Quantrill has been a very good pitcher for the Rockies this season. Pitcher wins can be overrated, but when you consider how bad the Rockies have been in 2024, the fact that Quantrill has a winning record in 11 decisions shows that he has been able to pitch deep into ballgames and minimize damage. Remember: The Rockies do not have one of the better offensive teams in their history. A lot of Colorado teams in the past were horrible primarily because of their pitching, but the 2024 Rockies have struggled just as much because of their offense as their bullpen. Their starters have been the best part of their team, with different guys showing to varying degrees a level of staying power which hasn't always existed. Quantrill was dogged by a tendency to have bad road starts when he was with the Cleveland Guardians. He has become a better road-game pitcher with the Rockies and will try to add a good Coors Field start to his 2024 portfolio, which has been impressive.

Last Start: Monday, June 17 versus the Los Angeles Dodgers: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 0 HR, 3 BB, 3 K

2024 Home Splits: 6 starts, 34 IP, 32 H, 15 R, 5 HR, 15 BB, 25 K

Here are the Nationals-Rockies MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel.

MLB Odds: Nationals-Rockies Odds

Washington Nationals: -1.5 (+126)

Moneyline: -120

Colorado Rockies: +1.5 (-152)

Moneyline: +102

Over: 10 (-118)

Under: 10 (-104)

How to Watch Nationals vs Rockies

Time: 9:10 p.m. ET/6:10 p.m. PT

TV: MASN (Nationals) / MLB (Rockies) / MLB Extra Innings

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Nationals Will Cover The Spread/Win

Mitchell Parker has been very strong for the Nats this season. Trusting him is a perfectly good betting move, especially against a bad Rockies team.

Why The Rockies Will Cover The Spread/Win

Cal Quantrill has been a strong pitcher for Colorado this season. When he starts games, Colorado is not the terrible team it has been to varying degrees when other pitchers start. It's not easy to bet against the Rockies when Quantrill pitches for them. He has won outright several times and covered spreads a few other times.

Final Nationals-Rockies Prediction & Pick

Both pitchers are having good seasons, so we see no reason to move to one side. Pass on this game and wait for a live play.

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Final Nationals-Rockies Prediction & Pick: Rockies +1.5