Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies Prediction, 5/18/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies

Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024

Location: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Odds/Point Spread: Washington (+235) Philadelphia (-290)

Citizens Bank Park is the site where the Philadelphia Phillies (31-14) will try to beat the Washington Nationals (20-22) on Saturday. The odds on this game have Washington at +235 while Philadelphia is sitting at -290. The total comes in at 7.5. The starting pitchers will be MacKenzie Gore and Cristopher Sanchez.

Washington has a slugging rate of .350 and have struck out 346 times, while taking a walk on 146 occasions. They have accrued 153 runs batted in and 311 hits on the campaign, and their team batting average is .225. The Nationals have accrued 61 doubles as a team and have hit 35 balls out of the park. They have notched a total of 166 runs scored and have an OBP of .307. As a unit, the Washington Nationals are scoring 4.0 runs per game, which ranks them 21st in the league.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.55 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.35. Nationals pitchers have allowed 29 home runs and 176 runs in total (11th in baseball). Washington has given up 374 base knocks (9.0 per 9 innings) as well as 155 earned runs. The Nationals have a team ERA of 3.75 on the campaign (12th in the league), and the staff has rung up 329 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 129 opposing hitters and their FIP comes in at 3.44 as a team on the campaign.

The Nationals relief pitchers have a save percentage of 68.4% and has come into the game in 52 save situations. The relievers have inherited 54 runners over the course of the season and 33.3% of those runners ended up scoring. Nationals pitchers have entered the game with opponents on base 40 times and also have had 47 appearances in high leverage situations. The Nationals have dispatched 153 relievers to the hill on the year. The relievers have a total of 33 holds this season (4th in the league). They have compiled 13 saves for the year and have blown 6 of 19 save opportunities.

The Nationals have turned 66.5% of balls hit into play into outs in their 3,348 innings on the field, which has them ranked 30th in MLB. The Washington Nationals have a total of 1,116 putouts at this point in the season, as well as 407 assists and 28 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .982 which has them sitting 25th in the majors, and have accumulated 47 double plays.

Gore has pitched in 246 innings and has totaled 274 punch outs so far in his career. His earned run average is 4.27 (117 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.429. He has given up 245 base knocks (9.0 hits per 9 innings) with 107 free passes. Gore (13-18 career mark) is the owner of a FIP of 4.32 and he has faced 1,067 opposing hitters during his time in the majors.

Philadelphia has 51 long balls this season and 226 RBIs. They have recorded 65 doubles, while walking 175 times and putting up 237 runs. The Philadelphia Phillies have compiled an on-base percentage of .337 and a team batting average of .258 this season. The Phillies hold a slugging % of .414 and they have an average of 5.27 runs per outing (1st in the league). They have been rung up on 389 instances (11th in baseball) and have accounted for 395 hits.

The Phillies have a team WHIP of 1.148 in addition to having a FIP of 3.26 as a staff on the season. They are currently ranked 9th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 337. The Philadelphia pitching staff have allowed 166 runs so far this season while having a team ERA of 3.17 (143 earned runs conceded). Their strikeout to walk ratio is 9.30 (420 strikeouts against 129 bases on balls). They have surrendered 36 homers and they allow 3.68 runs per 9 innings (8th in baseball).

Philadelphia relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 45.2% out of 42 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have come in 55 times in high leverage situations and also on 31 occasions with base runners. Sitting with 44 save situations, the Phillies have 24 holds and also 7 blown saves. They sit at 15th in MLB with a save percentage of 65.0%, and they have sent 136 relief pitchers to the mound for the season. Philadelphia has had bullpen pitchers enter the contest in 20 save chances and they have earned 13 saves.

In 3,654 innings played, the Phillies hold a efficiency on defense of 70.1% (15th in pro baseball). The Philadelphia Phillies have gotten 32 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .983 (20th in pro baseball). The Phillies have racked up 411 assists, 28 errors and have notched a total of 1,218 putouts this year.

So far in his career, Sanchez has conceded 187 base hits while he has accumulated 183 strikeouts in 194 innings. Sanchez (8-10 win-loss mark in his career) holds a 3.99 ERA and has surrendered 8.7 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered a total of 86 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.263 and having a FIP of 3.9. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.16 and he has faced 818 opposing batters in his career.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Washington (+235)

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