Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies Prediction, 5/17/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies

Date: Friday, May 17, 2024

Location: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Citizens Bank Park is the location where the Philadelphia Phillies (31-13) will attempt to defeat the Washington Nationals (20-22) on Friday. The pitchers expected to start will be Jake Irvin and Zack Wheeler.

Washington has a slugging percentage of .350 and have struck out 346 times, while drawing a walk on 146 occasions. They have 153 runs batted in as well as 311 base knocks this year, while their average at the plate sits at .225. The Nationals have accrued 61 two-baggers as a squad and have hit 35 baseballs out of the park. They have accumulated 166 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .307. As a unit, the Washington Nationals are recording 4.0 runs per game, which is 21st in MLB.

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The Nationals are sitting with a team ERA of 3.75 on the season (12th in MLB), and they have struck out 329 batters. Nationals pitchers have surrendered 29 home runs and also 176 runs in total (11th in the league). They have walked 129 players from the other team and their FIP sits at 3.43 as a squad for the season. Washington has surrendered 374 hits (9.0 per 9 innings) as well as 155 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.55 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.35.

Nationals relief pitchers have entered the contest with players on base 40 times and also have had 47 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers are sitting with 33 holds for the season (3rd in the league). The Nationals relief pitchers have earned a save rate of 68.4% and has entered the game in 52 save situations. They have recorded 13 saves for the season and have not converted 6 of 19 chances to get a save. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 54 runners this season and 33.3% of them earned a run for their team. The Nationals have dispatched 153 relief pitchers to the hill for the season.

The Nationals have converted 66.5% of balls in play into outs in their 3,348 innings on the field, which has them sitting 30th in the majors. The Washington Nationals have earned a total of 1,116 putouts this year, as well as 407 assists and 28 errors. Their fielding rate is at .982 which is 25th in professional baseball, and they have turned 47 double plays.

Irvin has taken the ball for 166 innings and has tallied 135 strikeouts in his pro baseball career. His ERA is 4.32 (80 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.332. He has surrendered 160 base knocks (8.6 hits per 9 innings) and has 62 free passes. Irvin (5-10 career record) has a FIP of 4.73 and he has faced 714 opposing hitters during his time in the major leagues.

The Philadelphia Phillies have a team OBP of .338 and a team batting average of .260 so far this season. They have struck out on 380 occasions (13th in baseball) and have 387 base knocks. Philadelphia has compiled 51 home runs on the year as well as 221 runs batted in. The Phillies have a team slugging % of .418 and they have an average of 5.27 runs per contest (2nd in MLB). They have recorded 63 two-baggers, while taking a walk 171 times as well as putting up 232 runs.

The Philadelphia pitching staff have allowed 160 runs for the season while holding a team ERA of 3.19 (140 earned runs allowed). They have given up 35 long balls and they surrender 3.65 runs per 9 innings (6th in MLB). The Phillies have a WHIP of 1.152 and have a FIP of 3.27 as a unit on the season. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 9.30 (407 strikeouts against 126 bases on balls). They sit at 9th in the league as a staff in total hits given up with 329.

Philadelphia bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 47.5% out of 40 inherited runners. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 51 times in high leverage situations and also on 29 occasions with runners on base. With 43 save situations, the Phillies have recorded 24 holds and 6 blown saves. They sit at 12th in MLB with a save percentage of 68.4%, and they have dispatched 130 bullpen pitchers to the hill so far this year. Philadelphia has called on relief pitchers to step onto the hill in 19 save opportunities and they have earned 13 saves.

The Philadelphia Phillies have gotten 31 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .983 (21st in baseball). The Phillies have racked up 403 assists, 27 errors and have accounted for 1,185 putouts on the season. In their 3,555 innings played, the Phillies have earned a defensive efficiency of 70.1% (14th in MLB).

In his career, Wheeler has allowed 1,266 base hits while he has totaled 1,466 K's in 1,432 frames. He has surrendered 543 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.178 and having a FIP of 3.3. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.48 and he has gone up against 5,931 hitters thus far in his career. Wheeler (91-66 career record) has a 3.41 earned run average while allowing 8.0 hits per 9 innings.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Philadelphia

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