Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 4/19/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals

Date: Friday, April 19, 2024

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: Space City Home Network

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-176) Washington (+148)

Nationals Park is the site where the Washington Nationals (8-10) will attempt to beat the Houston Astros (6-14) on Friday. The moneyline on this matchup has the Astros at -176 while the Nationals are coming in at +148. The over/under has been set at 9. The starting pitchers are Justin Verlander and MacKenzie Gore.

The Astros have compiled 40 two-baggers as a team and have hit 24 balls out of the park. Houston has a slugging % of .428 and have struck out 134 times, while drawing a walk on 72 occasions. As a unit, the Houston Astros are notching 4.4 runs per contest, which has them sitting at 16th in MLB. They have earned 84 runs batted in in addition to 188 hits this year, while their batting average is sitting at .268. They have earned a total of 87 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .341.

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They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 1.74 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.51. Astros pitchers have conceded 17 home runs and 110 runs in total (29th in baseball). Houston has conceded 181 base knocks (9.2 per 9 innings) and also 103 earned runs. The Astros have a team earned run average of 5.24 so far this year (29th in the league), and the staff has struck out 150 batters. They have walked 86 opposing hitters and their FIP comes in at 4.36 as a team on the season.

The Astros have dispatched 72 relief pitchers to the hill over the course of the season. The relievers have inherited 30 runners for the season with 26.7% of them ended up crossing the plate. They have accumulated 1 save so far this season and have not converted 5 of 6 save opportunities. The Astros relievers have compiled a save rate of 16.7% and has stepped onto the mound in 12 save situations. The relievers have notched 6 holds this year (28th in MLB). Astros pitchers have come into the game with runners on base 17 times and also have had 17 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Astros have turned 67.5% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 1,593 innings, ranking them 25th in baseball. The Houston Astros have earned a total of 531 putouts at this point in the season, as well as 172 assists and 11 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .985 which has them ranked 14th in MLB, and have earned 20 double plays.

Verlander has taken the mound for 3,325 frames and has earned 3,342 strikeouts so far in his career. Verlander (257-141 career record) is the owner of a FIP of 3.38 while facing 13,549 hitters in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.24 (1,197 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.118. He has given up 2,793 hits (7.6 hits per 9 innings) and has had 925 walks.

The Nationals have a team slugging percentage of .376 and they earn 3.67 runs per outing (25th in the league). They have hit 31 doubles, while getting a free base 57 times and notching 66 runs. Washington has hit 17 home runs over the course of the season and 63 RBIs. They have struck out on 148 instances (22nd in MLB) and have totaled 136 base hits. The Washington Nationals hold an on-base percentage of .308 in addition to a team batting average of .231 this season.

The Nationals hold a team WHIP of 1.449 in addition to having a FIP of 3.47 as a staff so far this season. Their K/BB ratio is 9.10 (159 strikeouts against 65 free passes). They are currently ranked 25th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 164. They have conceded 12 home runs and they relinquish 4.56 runs per 9 innings (17th in MLB). The Washington pitching staff have allowed 80 runs so far this year while having a team ERA of 4.39 (77 earned runs conceded).

Sitting with 27 save situations, the Nationals have recorded 17 holds and 3 blown saves. Washington has called on bullpen pitchers to enter the contest in 10 save chances and they have walked away with 7 saves. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 23 times in high leverage situations in addition to 20 occasions with runners on base. Washington relievers hold an inherited score rate of 40.7% out of 27 inherited base runners. They rank 10th in baseball with a save percentage of 70.0%, and they have dispatched 65 relief pitchers onto the diamond so far this year.

In 1,422 innings on the field, the Nationals have a defensive efficiency of 65.0% (30th in MLB). The Washington Nationals have turned 17 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .991 (2nd in professional baseball). The Nationals have recorded 165 assists, 6 errors and have earned 474 putouts for the year.

In his MLB career, Gore has surrendered 214 base knocks while earning 246 punch outs in 222 innings. He has allowed 107 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.408 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.5. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.48 and he has faced 956 batters during his pro baseball career. Gore (13-14 career mark) has a 4.33 ERA and has conceded 8.7 hits per 9 innings.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Houston (-176)

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