Friday, April 15, 2016

Citizens Bank Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Joe Ross vs. Jeremy Hellickson

The Washington Nationals visit Citizens Bank Park on Friday to play the Philadelphia Phillies. The probable starters are Joe Ross for the Nationals and Jeremy Hellickson for the Phillies. The opening line for this matchup has Washington at +130 and Philadelphia at -140. The over/under was set at 8. The Nationals have a 2-4-1 over/under record and a 4-3-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 57% of the time. The Phillies are 4-5-0 against the run line and have a 4-5-0 over/under record. They cover the spread 44% of the time.

The Nationals head into this matchup with a 6-1 record, including 2-0 on the road. Starting pitcher Joe Ross has a 1-0 record with an earned run average of 1.29 and a WHIP of 1.00. He has 5 strikeouts over his 7 innings pitched and he has given up 5 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 2.6. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 2.14 and they have given up 15 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .203 against the bullpen while being struck out 22 times and walking 7 times this season. As a team, Washington has allowed 7.17 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.73 batters per nine. They are 1st in the league in team earned run average at 2.25. The Nationals pitchers have collectively given up 51 base hits and 16 earned runs. They have allowed 3 home runs this season and they allow 0.4 homers per nine innings as a staff. Washington as a pitching staff has walked 24 batters and struck out 55. They walk 3.4 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.7 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.17 and their FIP as a unit is 3.28.

As a team, Washington is batting .248, good for 15th in the league while putting together a .225 average away from home. The Nationals hold a .381 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .329 which is good for 13th in baseball. They rank 16th in baseball with 8 hits per game. Bryce Harper comes into this game hitting .250 and his on-base percentage is at .419. He has 6 hits this season along with 5 runs scored and 5 runs batted in. He's struck out 3 times and has walked 7 times. Yunel Escobar is hitting .306 and he has an on-base percentage of .390. He has totaled 11 hits so far while scoring 6 runs and he's driven in 2. He has walked 5 times and has struck out 2 times. The Nationals have 56 hits, including 10 doubles and 6 home runs. They've stolen 6 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 2 times. Washington has walked 29 times this season and they've struck out 55 times as a unit. They've left 54 men on base and have a team OPS of .710. They score 3.71 runs per contest and have scored a total of 26 runs so far this year.

Philadelphia comes into this matchup with a 2-1 home record and a 4-5 overall mark. With an earned run average of 1.54, Jeremy Hellickson has a 1-0 record and a 0.60 WHIP. He has 11 strikeouts over the 11.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 6 hits. He has allowed 4.6 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 2.66. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 6.17 and they have given up 22 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .244 against the Phillies bullpen while being struck out 23 times and walking 14 times this season. As a team, Philadelphia has allowed 6.75 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.54 batters per nine. They are 10th in the league in team earned run average at 3.61. The Phillies pitchers as a team have surrendered 58 base knocks and 31 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 6 home runs this year and they give up 0.7 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Philadelphia as a staff has walked 26 hitters and struck out 82. They give up a walk 3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 9.5 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.09 while their FIP as a staff is 3.15.

As a team, they are batting .221, good for 23rd in the league while putting together a .200 average at home. The Phillies hold a .363 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .277 which is good for 27th in baseball. They rank 25th in baseball with 6.89 hits per contest. Ryan Howard comes into this matchup batting .192 and he has an OBP of .267. He has 5 hits this year along with 2 runs scored and 4 RBI. He's struck out 9 times and has walked on 3 occasions. Maikel Franco is hitting .379 and he has an OBP of .455. He has collected 11 hits so far while he's scored 3 runs and drove in 5. He has earned a walk 3 times and has punched out 6 times. The Phillies as a unit have 62 base hits, including 12 doubles and 8 homers. They have 2 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 4 times. Philadelphia as a team has walked 20 times this year and they have struck out 76 times. They've had 46 men left on base and have an OPS of .640. They score 2.89 runs per game and have totaled 26 runs so far this season.

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

The Washington Nationals are 2-4-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Washington Nationals are 4-3-0 against the run line so far this season

Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends

The Philadelphia Phillies are 4-5-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Philadelphia Phillies are 4-5-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Washington Nationals

04/13/16 P Stephen Strasburg Illness "?" Thursday vs. Atlanta Braves
04/07/16 LF Ben Revere Oblique 15-day DL (4/5)
03/31/16 P Aaron Barrett Elbow 60-day DL (4/1)

Philadelphia Phillies

04/14/16 1B Darin Ruf Rotator Cuff "?" Thursday vs. San Diego Padres
04/04/16 P Michael Mariot Ankle 15-day DL (3/25)
04/03/16 P Mario Hollands Elbow 60-day DL (4/2)
03/31/16 LF Aaron Altherr Wrist 60-day DL (4/2)
03/31/16 LF Cody Asche Ribs 15-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Matt Harrison Back 60-day DL (4/2)

Tony's Pick: Take the Phillies

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink