Washington Nationals vs Texas Rangers Prediction, 5/2/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Texas Rangers

Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024

Location: Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX

TV: MASN

Globe Life Field is the location where the Texas Rangers (16-14) will try to beat the Washington Nationals (14-15) on Thursday. The starting pitchers are Mitchell Parker and Nathan Eovaldi.

Washington has a slugging rate of .371 and have been called out on strikes 230 times, while taking a walk on 95 occasions. They have earned 109 runs batted in and 224 hits this season, and their team batting average is .233. The Nationals have compiled 44 doubles as a unit and have knocked 27 baseballs out of the stadium. They have tallied 118 runs scored and hold an OBP of .312. As a team, the Washington Nationals are earning 4.1 runs per game, which ranks them 20th in the league.

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The Nationals have a team ERA of 4.31 on the year (22nd in the league), and the staff has rung up 231 hitters. Nationals pitchers have surrendered 20 long balls and 129 runs in total (15th in the league). They have walked 92 opposing hitters and their FIP sits at 3.50 as a unit for the year. Washington has yielded 275 base hits (9.6 per 9 innings) in addition to 123 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.51 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.43.

The Nationals relievers have earned a save rate of 64.3% and stepped onto the hill in 34 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 38 runners on the year with 36.8% of those players ended up crossing the plate. Nationals relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 28 times and also have had 31 appearances in high leverage situations. The Nationals have sent 105 relief pitchers to the hill for the season. The relievers have earned 20 holds on the season (7th in baseball). They have 9 saves so far this season and have not converted 5 of 14 save opportunities.

The Washington Nationals have notched a total of 771 putouts at this point in the season, as well as 280 assists and 9 errors. Their fielding rate is at .992 which ranks 2nd in the majors, and they have turned 32 double plays. The Nationals have turned 65.5% of baseballs in play into outs in their 2,313 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 30th in pro baseball.

Parker (2-0 career win-loss record) has earned a FIP of 1.79 and he has faced 62 hitters during his time in the majors. He has allowed 13 base knocks (7.3 hits per 9 innings) and has 2 walks. His ERA is 1.69 (3 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 0.938. Parker has pitched in 16 innings and has earned 14 strikeouts during his MLB career.

The Rangers have a team slugging % of .407 and they average 4.63 runs per game (13th in the league). They have put up 47 two-baggers, while taking a walk 92 times and recording 139 runs. Texas has a total of 34 HRs so far this season as well as 135 RBIs. They have struck out on 230 instances (23rd in MLB) and have accounted for 253 hits. The Texas Rangers have recorded an on-base percentage of .318 and a team batting average of .250 over the course of the season.

The Texas pitching staff have allowed 126 runs for the season while having an ERA of 3.84 (113 earned runs relinquished). They have yielded 32 home runs and they give up 4.28 runs per 9 innings (14th in MLB). The Rangers have a team WHIP of 1.200 in addition to having a FIP of 4.15 as a team this season. Their K/BB ratio comes in at 9.00 (264 strikeouts vs 108 bases on balls). They are currently ranked 3rd in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 210.

Sitting with 27 save situations, the Rangers have accumulated 18 holds and 3 blown saves. Texas has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the hill in 9 save chances and they have walked away with 6 saves. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill 38 times in high leverage situations and on 30 occasions with runners on. Texas bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 34.0% out of their 50 inherited runners. They are ranked 14th in MLB holding a save rate of 66.7%, and they have dispatched 87 relievers onto the field this season.

Out of their 2,385 innings on the field, the Rangers have earned a defensive efficiency of 72.9% (1st in the majors). The Texas Rangers have gotten 19 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .987 (8th in baseball). The Rangers have recorded 251 assists, 14 errors and have amassed 795 putouts for the season.

Eovaldi (80-75 career mark) holds a 4.08 ERA and has given up 9.1 hits per nine innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.92 and he has faced 6,080 batters in his career. He has conceded 651 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.301 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.8. During his pro baseball career, Eovaldi has given up 1,451 base knocks while accumulating 1,228 K's in 1,437 innings.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Washington

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