St Louis (19-10) at Washington (12-16)
When: Thursday, May 2nd, 2019
Where: Nationals Park,
Washington, DC
Time: 4:05 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Washington -155/8.5
Don’t look now, but the best record in Major League Baseball belongs to the St. Louis Cardinals. At 20-10, the red-hot Cardinals have roared to a three-game lead in the National League Central and look to cap-off a four-game sweep of the struggling Washington Nationals in Thursday’s finale. St. Louis has won five in a row and 10 of their last 11 overall after an easy 5-1 victory Wednesday over National’s ace Max Scherzer. Jose Martinez continues to swing a hot bat for St. Louis and raised his average to .375 after recording his fourth consecutive multi-hit performance on Wednesday. Martinez got the Cardinals on the board quickly with a two-run single in the first inning and scored a run for the third straight game when he capped the scoring in the eighth. Marcell Ozuna, who is 13-for-38 with two homers versus Thursday starter Stephen Strasburg, has multiple hits in four of his last seven games. Washington is reeling with losses in six of their last seven and are 4.5 games behind first place Philadelphia in the NL East. The Nationals have scored just six runs in the series and saw star outfielder Juan Soto scratched from the lineup before Wednesday’s game with back spasm. Rookie shortstop Carter Kieboom, who hit two homers in his first three big league games, is hitless in 10 at-bats this series with four strikeouts.
Pitchers: Cardinals – Dakota Hudson (2-1, 5.63 ERA) | Nationals – Stephen Strasburg (2-1, 3.82)
Daniel Hudson has wins in back-to-back outings despite not having a quality start in each. The longball has been an issue for the St. Louis righty, as he’s allowed eight on the season already, but managed to keep the ball in the yard in his last outing against Cincinnati. Hudson allowed three runs in a season-high 5.2 innings of a 6-3 victory over the Reds. Hudson made four relief appearances against Washington in 2018, allowing two runs in 2.1 innings and has a 9.35 ERA in two road starts in 2019.
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Strasburg has put together back-to-back solid outings for the first time in 2019, allowing two earned runs versus San Diego after shutting out the Miami Marlins over eight strong innings in his previous start. Strasburg owns a 2-2 record with a 2.56 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in six career appearances against St. Louis, last facing them in 2016.
I know Hudson has been awful so far this season, but the Cardinals are 3-2 in his starts. Strasburg was brilliant in his last two starts, but they were against the Reds and Marlins, so I’m not taking that as a sign of him turning things around. The Nats just aren’t scoring enough runs to back Strasburg against a red-hot St. Louis team.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Thursday. He is 50-36 on the season after a 4-1 run!
Pick: Cardinals +145
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BETTING TRENDS:
Cardinals are 4-0 in their last 4 road games.
Cardinals are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. National League East.
Cardinals are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Cardinals are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
Cardinals are 4-0 in their last 4 games following a win.
Cardinals are 6-0 in their last 6 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cardinals are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
Cardinals are 6-1 in their last 7 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cardinals are 6-1 in their last 7 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cardinals are 16-5 in their last 21 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cardinals are 19-7 in their last 26 overall.
Cardinals are 19-7 in their last 26 games on grass.
Cardinals are 20-8 in their last 28 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Cardinals are 7-3 in their last 10 during game 4 of a series.
Nationals are 10-2 in their last 12 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 18-6 in their last 24 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 2-5 in their last 7 Thursday games.
Nationals are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a loss.
Nationals are 1-5 in their last 6 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 1-5 in their last 6 home games.
Nationals are 1-6 in their last 7 overall.
Nationals are 1-6 in their last 7 games on grass.
Nationals are 0-4 in their last 4 vs. National League Central.
Nationals are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 0-7 in their last 7 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Nationals are 15-1 in Strasburg’s last 16 starts during game 4 of a series.
Nationals are 14-3 in Strasburg’s last 17 starts vs. National League Central.
Nationals are 40-12 in Strasburg’s last 52 starts with 4 days of rest.
Nationals are 27-10 in Strasburg’s last 37 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 8-3 in Strasburg’s last 11 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 69-26 in Strasburg’s last 95 starts.
Nationals are 69-26 in Strasburg’s last 95 starts on grass.
Nationals are 43-17 in Strasburg’s last 60 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Nationals are 27-11 in Strasburg’s last 38 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 29-13 in Strasburg’s last 42 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Nationals are 35-16 in Strasburg’s last 51 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 13-6 in Strasburg’s last 19 Thursday starts.
Nationals are 1-4 in Strasburg’s last 5 home starts.
Under is 3-0-1 in Cardinals last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 8-1-1 in Cardinals last 10 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 13-3 in Cardinals last 16 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 8-2-1 in Cardinals last 11 vs. National League East.
Under is 3-1-1 in Cardinals last 5 overall.
Under is 3-1-1 in Cardinals last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 3-1-1 in Cardinals last 5 on grass.
Over is 6-2-1 in Cardinals last 9 Thursday games.
Over is 15-5-1 in Cardinals last 21 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 14-5 in Cardinals last 19 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Cardinals last 7 games following a win.
Over is 11-5-1 in Cardinals last 17 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 13-6-1 in Cardinals last 20 road games.
Under is 17-8-2 in Cardinals last 27 during game 4 of a series.
Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 Thursday games.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 vs. National League Central.
Over is 16-5-2 in Nationals last 23 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 15-5-2 in Nationals last 22 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 3-1-2 in Nationals last 6 during game 4 of a series.
Over is 18-7-1 in Nationals last 26 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Over is 12-5-1 in Nationals last 18 games following a loss.
Over is 9-4 in Nationals last 13 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 35-17-2 in Nationals last 54 home games.
Over is 5-0 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Strasburg’s last 4 starts vs. National League Central.
Over is 6-1 in Strasburg’s last 7 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Over is 13-3 in Strasburg’s last 16 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Over is 21-5-1 in Strasburg’s last 27 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-1 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 37-12-2 in Strasburg’s last 51 home starts.
Over is 6-2 in Strasburg’s last 8 Thursday starts.
Over is 6-2 in Strasburg’s last 8 starts on grass.
Over is 6-2 in Strasburg’s last 8 starts during game 4 of a series.
Over is 9-3 in Strasburg’s last 12 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 6-2 in Strasburg’s last 8 starts overall.
Cardinals are 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Washington.
Cardinals are 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
