Sunday, May 1, 2016

Busch Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Max Scherzer vs. Carlos Martinez

The Washington Nationals visit Busch Stadium on Sunday to play the St. Louis Cardinals. The probable starters are Max Scherzer for the Nationals and Carlos Martinez for the Cardinals. The Nationals have a 8-12-2 over/under record and a 11-11-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 50% of the time. The Cardinals are 12-11-0 against the run line and have a 15-8-0 over/under record. They cover the spread 52% of the time.

The Nationals head into this matchup with a 15-7 record, including 7-3 on the road. Starting pitcher Max Scherzer has a 2-1 record with an earned run average of 4.35 and a WHIP of 1.32. He has 30 strikeouts over his 31 innings pitched and he has given up 29 hits so far this season. He has allowed 8.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.5. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 2.64 and they have given up 48 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .207 against the bullpen while being struck out 60 times and walking 20 times this season. As a team, Washington has allowed 6.86 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.57 batters per nine. They are 1st in the league in team earned run average at 2.42. The Nationals pitchers have collectively given up 156 base hits and 55 earned runs. They have allowed 14 home runs this season and they allow 0.6 homers per nine innings as a staff. Washington as a pitching staff has walked 65 batters and struck out 195. They walk 2.9 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.6 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.08 and their FIP as a unit is 3.07.

As a team, Washington is batting .232, good for 25th in the league while putting together a .235 average away from home. The Nationals hold a .388 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .306 which is good for 22nd in baseball. They rank 23rd in baseball with 7.77 hits per game. Bryce Harper comes into this game hitting .301 and his on-base percentage is at .418. He has 22 hits this season along with 15 runs scored and 24 runs batted in. He's struck out 12 times and has walked 16 times. Yunel Escobar is hitting .272 and he has an on-base percentage of .343. He has totaled 25 hits so far while scoring 10 runs and he's driven in 7. He has walked 8 times and has struck out 10 times. The Nationals have 171 hits, including 34 doubles and 25 home runs. They've stolen 12 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 4 times. Washington has walked 76 times this season and they've struck out 177 times as a unit. They've left 147 men on base and have a team OPS of .694. They score 3.95 runs per contest and have scored a total of 87 runs so far this year.

St. Louis comes into this matchup with a 5-5 home record and a 12-11 overall mark. With an earned run average of 1.93, Carlos Martinez has a 4-0 record and a 0.86 WHIP. He has 20 strikeouts over the 28 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 16 hits. He has allowed 5.1 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.54. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.09 and they have given up 51 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .212 against the Cardinals bullpen while being struck out 73 times and walking 30 times this season. As a team, St. Louis has allowed 8.14 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.92 batters per nine. They are 16th in the league in team earned run average at 3.90. The Cardinals pitchers as a team have surrendered 184 base knocks and 88 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 18 home runs this year and they give up 0.8 home runs per nine innings as a staff. St. Louis as a staff has walked 77 hitters and struck out 179. They give up a walk 3.4 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.9 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.28 while their FIP as a staff is 3.71.

As a team, they are batting .276, good for 3rd in the league while putting together a .283 average at home. The Cardinals hold a .488 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .354 which is good for 3rd in baseball. They rank 2nd in baseball with 9.74 hits per contest. Matt Carpenter comes into this matchup batting .238 and he has an OBP of .385. He has 20 hits this year along with 15 runs scored and 16 RBI. He's struck out 21 times and has walked on 17 occasions. Yadier Molina is hitting .333 and he has an OBP of .422. He has collected 26 hits so far while he's scored 8 runs and drove in 10. He has earned a walk 11 times and has punched out 11 times. The Cardinals as a unit have 224 base hits, including 48 doubles and 34 homers. They have 9 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 4 times. St. Louis as a team has walked 87 times this year and they have struck out 191 times. They've had 174 men left on base and have an OPS of .842. They score 6.13 runs per game and have totaled 141 runs so far this season.

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

The Washington Nationals are 8-12-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Washington Nationals are 11-11-0 against the run line so far this season

St. Louis Cardinals Betting Trends

The St. Louis Cardinals are 15-8-0 against the over/under so far this season

The St. Louis Cardinals are 12-11-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Washington Nationals

04/28/16 P Matt Belisle Calf 15-day DL (4/27)
04/07/16 LF Ben Revere Oblique 15-day DL (4/5)
03/31/16 P Aaron Barrett Elbow 60-day DL (4/1)

St. Louis Cardinals

04/04/16 C Brayan Pena Knee 15-day DL (4/1)
04/04/16 SS Jhonny Peralta Thumb 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Jordan Walden Abdominal 15-day DL (3/31)
04/04/16 P Lance Lynn Elbow 60-day DL; out for season
04/04/16 P Mitch Harris Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 CF Thomas Pham Oblique 15-day DL (4/4)

Tony's Pick: Take the Nationals

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