Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Busch Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Max Scherzer (11-11) vs. Michael Wacha (15-4)

The Washington Nationals take on the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday at Busch Stadium. The probable starters are Max Scherzer for the Nationals and Michael Wacha for the Cardinals. The opening line for this matchup has Washington at +115 and St. Louis at -125. The over/under was set at 6.5. The Nationals, with a 57-73 run line record, cover the spread 44% of the time. They also have a 68-56 over/under record. The Cardinals have a 50-73 over/under record and a 68-63 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 52% of the time.

The Nationals come into this game with a 66-64 record, and they are 29-38 away from home. Max Scherzer has an earned run average of 2.88 and is 11-11 so far on the season while having a 0.93 WHIP. He's pitched 178 innings thus far while surrendering 139 hits over that time and when he starts, the Nationals are 13-13. The Nationals are also 9-15 against the over/under in his starts. The team is averaging 3.4 runs when he starts. The bullpen has an earned run average of 3.60 and they have given up 354 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .246 against the bullpen while being struck out 339 times and walking 110 times this season. As a team, Washington has allowed 8.92 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.17 batters per nine. They are 12th in the league in team earned run average at 3.77.

Washington is batting .250 as a team, which is good for 21st in the league and hitting .249 away from home. The Nationals hold a .400 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .319 which is good for 13th in baseball. They rank 22nd in baseball with 8.36 hits per game and Bryce Harper leads the team with 139.

With a 85-46 overall record, St. Louis will come into this game 47-19 at home. Michael Wacha is starting this game 15-4 for the season with an earned run average of 2.69 and a WHIP of 1.12. He's pitched 157.1 innings thus far while surrendering 137 hits over that time in which the Cardinals are 19-6. The Cardinals are also 11-13 against the over/under in his starts. The team is averaging 5 runs when he takes the field. The bullpen has an earned run average of 2.38 and they have given up 340 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .235 against the Cardinals bullpen while being struck out 347 times and walking 142 times this season. As a team, St. Louis has allowed 8.17 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.98 batters per nine. They are 1st in the league in team earned run average at 2.65.

They are batting .255 as a team, which is good for 11th in the league and hitting .262 at home. The Cardinals hold a .394 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .322 which is good for 11th in baseball. They rank 12th in baseball with 8.69 hits per game and Jhonny Peralta leads the team with 134.

Washington has a team fielding percentage of .984 after having committed 76 errors with 1,220 assists and 3,435 put outs for the season. For the home team, they hold a .985 team fielding percentage while committing 77 errors, accumulating 1,313 assists and compiling 3,581 put outs.

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

The Washington Nationals are 68-56 against the over/under so far this season

The Washington Nationals are 57-73 against the run line so far this season

St. Louis Cardinals Betting Trends

The St. Louis Cardinals are 50-73 against the over/under so far this season

The St. Louis Cardinals are 68-63 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Washington Nationals

08/31/15 P Stephen Strasburg Back "?" for next start scheduled start
08/28/15 CF Denard Span Hip Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/27); out for season
08/21/15 1B Tyler Moore Ankle Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/19)
08/10/15 P Aaron Barrett Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (8/9)
08/08/15 2B Dan Uggla Back Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/8)
04/30/15 LF Reed Johnson Calf Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/29)
04/15/15 P Craig Stammen Forearm Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/14)
04/06/15 LF Nate McLouth Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27), out for season

St. Louis Cardinals

09/01/15 P Carlos Martinez Back expected to miss Tuesday vs. Washington Nationals
08/30/15 P Lance Lynn Ankle "?" Friday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
08/18/15 LF Randal Grichuk Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/16)
07/30/15 LF Matt Holliday Quad Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/29)
07/03/15 CF Jon Jay Wrist Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/1)
07/01/15 P Matt Belisle Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/26)
05/27/15 1B Matt Adams Quad Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (05/26)
05/03/15 P Jordan Walden Bicep Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/30)
04/28/15 P Adam Wainwright Achilles Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/25); out for season

Tony's Pick: Take the Nationals

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