Baltimore Orioles vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 5/22/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Baltimore Orioles vs Washington Nationals

Date: Saturday, May 22, 2021

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: MASN/MASN2

Bruce Zimmermann and the Baltimore Orioles (17-25, 5th in AL East) go to Nationals Park on Saturday where they'll take on the Washington Nationals (17-22, 5th in NL East).

As a team, the Baltimore Orioles are earning 3.9 runs per outing, which is 24th in the league. They have 160 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .297. The Orioles have compiled 67 doubles as a squad and have hit 39 balls out of the stadium. They have earned 153 RBI's and 317 hits for the season, while their team batting average is sitting at .232. Baltimore has a slugging rate of .373 and have struck out 353 times, while being walked on 118 occasions.

The Orioles hold a team ERA of 4.48 for the year (22nd in MLB), and they have rung up 351 batters. They have walked 129 players from the other team and their FIP comes in at 4.51 as a squad for the season. They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.72 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.29. Orioles pitchers have given up 59 long balls in addition to 190 runs in total (20th in baseball).

The Orioles have sent 143 relievers to the mound so far this year. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 87 base runners so far this season and 40.2% of those runners earned a run for their team. They have recorded 9 saves so far this season and have blown 9 out of their 18 save opportunities. The Orioles relievers have earned a save percentage of 50.0% and has come into the game in 44 save situations. The relief pitchers have 25 holds this season (9th in the league). Orioles relief pitchers have come into the game with runners on 57 times in addition to having 54 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Orioles have transformed 70.5% of baseballs in play into outs out of 3,240 innings on the diamond, which ranks them 12th in professional baseball. The Baltimore Orioles have accounted for 1,080 putouts over the course of the season, in addition to 335 assists and 20 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .986 which ranks 6th in MLB, and have 286 double plays.

Zimmermann has pitched in 42 innings and has 35 punch outs during his career. Zimmermann (2-3 win-loss mark in his career) sits with a FIP of 5.74 while going up against 187 batters in the major leagues. His ERA is 5.27 (25 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.406. He has given up 47 base knocks (9.9 hits per 9 innings) with 13 free passes.

Washington has 40 home runs this year as well as 144 RBIs. They have notched 57 two-baggers, while getting a free base 110 times and scoring 148 runs. The Washington Nationals have accounted for an OBP of .320 and a team batting average of .252 for the year. The Nationals have a team slugging % of .395 and they average 3.89 runs per contest (25th in MLB). They have struck out on 316 occasions (28th in MLB) and have 321 base hits.

The Nationals have a WHIP of 1.239 with a FIP of 4.67 as a unit so far this season. They have a ranking of 2nd in MLB as a staff in total hits allowed with 276. The Washington pitching staff have conceded 164 runs this season while holding an ERA of 4.09 (150 earned runs allowed). Their K/BB ratio sits at 2.44 (325 strikeouts against 133 bases on balls). They have surrendered 55 home runs and they relinquish 4.47 runs per 9 innings (17th in the league).

Washington relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 29.7% out of their 37 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 28 times in high leverage situations and also on 23 occasions with base runners. Sitting with 19 save situations, the Nationals have accumulated 12 holds and also 3 blown saves. They are ranked 19th in the league holding a save rate of 57.1%, and they have dispatched 127 relief pitchers to the hill on the campaign. Washington has had relievers step onto the hill in 7 save chances and they have earned 4 saves.

In their 2,973 innings on the field, the Nationals hold a defensive efficiency of 72.6% (1st in MLB). The Washington Nationals have turned 33 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .985 (9th in the majors). The Nationals have accrued 336 assists, 20 errors and have notched a total of 991 putouts so far this year.

Lester (193-113 record in his career) has a 3.60 ERA and has allowed 8.5 hits per nine innings. His K/BB ratio is 2.86 and he has faced 10,948 opposing batters so far in his career. He has given up a total of 1,049 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.266 and a FIP of 3.7. So far in his pro baseball career, Lester has allowed 2,474 hits while accumulating 2,411 K's in 2,620 innings.

Who will win tonight's baseball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Baltimore

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