Detroit Tigers vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 5/21/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Detroit Tigers vs Washington Nationals

Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: MASN

Odds/Point Spread: Detroit (+105) Washington (-125)

The Washington Nationals (18-27) are hosting the Detroit Tigers (20-22) at Nationals Park on Sunday. The line on this matchup has the Tigers at +105 and the Nationals are opening at -125. The total is 8.5. The pitchers taking the mound will be Joey Wentz and Josiah Gray.

As a team, the Detroit Tigers are recording 3.6 runs per game, which ranks them 29th in MLB. They have earned a total of 151 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .295. The Tigers have tallied 71 two-baggers as a squad and have hit 35 balls out of the park. They have accumulated 146 RBI's as well as 328 hits this season, while their batting average is at .229. Detroit is slugging .355 and have been called out on strikes 380 times, while being walked on 124 occasions.

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They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.74 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.22. Tigers pitchers have allowed 57 home runs and also 197 total runs (16th in baseball). Detroit has given up 340 hits (8.1 per 9 innings) in addition to 183 earned runs. The Tigers have a team earned run average of 4.38 for the season (18th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 329 hitters. They have walked 120 opposing batters and their FIP is 4.59 as a unit so far this season.

The Tigers have sent 133 relievers to the hill so far this year. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 69 runners on the season and 37.7% of them crossed the plate. They have accumulated 11 saves on the year and have blown 6 of 17 chances to save the game. The Tigers relievers have a save percentage of 64.7% and has stepped onto the mound in 41 save situations. The relief pitchers are sitting with 22 holds for the season (20th in the league). Tigers relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 47 times in addition to having 47 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Detroit Tigers have accumulated 1,128 putouts on the campaign, in addition to 365 assists and 20 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .987 which has them sitting 13th in the majors, and have earned 30 double plays. The Tigers have converted 71.9% of balls in play into outs out of their 3,384 innings, which has them ranked 2nd in the majors.

Wentz has taken the mound for 69 frames and has 57 K's so far in his pro baseball career. Wentz (3-5 career mark) has earned a FIP of 4.46 while he has faced 295 opposing batters in the majors. His ERA is 4.80 (37 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.284. He has given up 62 base hits (8.0 hits per nine innings) and has had 27 free passes.

The Washington Nationals hold a team on-base percentage of .322 as well as a team batting average of .258 on the year. They have been rung up on 323 instances (29th in baseball) and are sitting with 394 base hits. Washington has hit 31 long balls on the campaign and 173 runs batted in. The Nationals hold a team SLG% of .372 and they are scoring 4.04 runs per game (24th in MLB). They have put up 67 two-baggers, while walking 125 times as well as recording 182 runs.

The Nationals are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.426 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.66 as a pitching staff over the course of the season. They are currently ranked 24th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 400. The Washington pitching staff have yielded 208 runs this year while having a team ERA of 4.43 (194 earned runs given up). They have earned a K/BB ratio of 7.40 (325 strikeouts vs 162 bases on balls). They have relinquished 51 homers and they concede 4.75 runs per 9 innings (18th in the league).

Washington has had relief pitchers enter the contest in 21 save opportunities and they have earned 11 saves. They are ranked 26th in MLB with a save percentage of 52.4%, and they have sent 140 relievers to the mound so far this year. Their relief pitchers have come in 41 times in high leverage situations and on 41 occasions with runners on base. Washington relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 31.9% out of their 69 inherited base runners. With 39 save situations, the Nationals have compiled 18 holds and 10 blown saves.

The Washington Nationals have turned 43 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .982 (26th in the majors). The Nationals have accrued 438 assists, 29 errors and have amassed 1,182 putouts this year. Out of their 3,546 innings played, the Nationals have a defensive efficiency of 68.4% (19th in the majors).

Gray (12-17 career mark) has earned a 4.70 ERA and has surrendered 8.2 hits per 9 innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.27 and he has faced 1,181 opposing batters so far in his pro baseball career. He has allowed a total of 142 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.357 and being the owner of a FIP of 5.6. So far in his MLB career, Gray has conceded 248 base hits while he has earned 275 punch outs in 272 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Washington (-125) and under 8.5 runs

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