PREMIUM
**$20 TUESDAY** Rogers' Big League BEATDOWN >> Won GOY on Monday!
(MLB) Washington vs. Atlanta,
Money Line: -170.00 Washington (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -170.00 Washington (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 7-5 Washington Nationals open a three-game series tonight in Atlanta against the Braves. Daniel Murphy has hit safely in 11 of 12 games this year and brings a .396 batting average into the series opener. Bryce Harper followed his 2015 MVP season with a down year in 2016 (hit only .243) but is starting to warm up in 2017, going 9-for-23 with eight RBI and seven runs scored in his last six games. He had two HRs, including a walk-off shot, in Sunday's 6-4 victory over Philadelphia. The Braves won just 68 games in 2016 and opened the 2017 season at 1-6 but come into this series on a five-game winning streak, after Dansby Swanson's walk-off single in Monday's 5-4 victory over San Diego gave them a four-game sweep of the Padres, along with giving them a 4-0 record at their new home, SunTrust Park.
The pitching matchup: Max Scherzer (1-1 & 2.13 ERA) will get the ball in the series opener for the Nats, opposed by Atlanta's Mike Foltynewicz (0-1 & 6.35 ERA). Scherzer was slowed in spring training by a knuckle injury on his right ring finger but has pitched well in his first two outings of 2017. He took the loss Wednesday against St. Louis despite allowing only one ER in six innings with 10 strikeouts but he struck out seven while giving up two runs in a win at Philadelphia back on April 7. He won his second career Cy Young Award last season and had no trouble vs. the Braves, going 4-0 while striking out 32 in 33 1/3 innings in five starts (Nats were 4-1). The Braves had multiple off-days during their season-opening road trip and that resulted in Foltynewicz being temporarily moved to the bullpen. He gave up two runs and three hits in two innings of relief last Tuesday at Miami, striking out four without issuing a walk. Foltynewicz's only start of the year came ion April 7th, when he allowed two runs and six hits over 3 2/3 innings en route to a 5-4 loss at Pittsburgh. He was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts against Washington in 2016 (team was 1-1).
The pick: Washington won the NL East last season with a 95-67 record, thanks in part to dominating Atlanta by taking 15 of the 19 meetings between the two rivals (?), while averaging 5.7 runs per contest. Setting aside Washington's dominance over Atlanta, we also have a Scherzer-Foltynewicz 'duel,' which seems like a total mismatch. Make the Nationals an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: Max Scherzer (1-1 & 2.13 ERA) will get the ball in the series opener for the Nats, opposed by Atlanta's Mike Foltynewicz (0-1 & 6.35 ERA). Scherzer was slowed in spring training by a knuckle injury on his right ring finger but has pitched well in his first two outings of 2017. He took the loss Wednesday against St. Louis despite allowing only one ER in six innings with 10 strikeouts but he struck out seven while giving up two runs in a win at Philadelphia back on April 7. He won his second career Cy Young Award last season and had no trouble vs. the Braves, going 4-0 while striking out 32 in 33 1/3 innings in five starts (Nats were 4-1). The Braves had multiple off-days during their season-opening road trip and that resulted in Foltynewicz being temporarily moved to the bullpen. He gave up two runs and three hits in two innings of relief last Tuesday at Miami, striking out four without issuing a walk. Foltynewicz's only start of the year came ion April 7th, when he allowed two runs and six hits over 3 2/3 innings en route to a 5-4 loss at Pittsburgh. He was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts against Washington in 2016 (team was 1-1).
The pick: Washington won the NL East last season with a 95-67 record, thanks in part to dominating Atlanta by taking 15 of the 19 meetings between the two rivals (?), while averaging 5.7 runs per contest. Setting aside Washington's dominance over Atlanta, we also have a Scherzer-Foltynewicz 'duel,' which seems like a total mismatch. Make the Nationals an 8* play.
