LA Dodgers (94-52) at Washington (89-57)
When: Friday, September 15th 2017
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -150/9.5
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The top two teams in the National League will meet on Friday night in what could be a preview of the NLCS next month when the Washington Nationals host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game set. This is just the fourth meeting this season with the Nationals taking two of three in Los Angeles back in the beginning of June before the Dodgers went on their 56-9 run. Nationals manager Dusty Baker opted to rest a few veterans after his club lost the first two games of its series with Atlanta by a combined score of 16-2. That gave rookie Victor Robles his first start and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Thursday’s 5-2 win. The victory allowed Washington, which already has clinched the NL East, to close within five games of idle Los Angeles atop the National League standings. The Dodgers, who still have the best record in the majors despite losing 16 of 17 from Aug. 26-Sept. 11, lowered their magic number to clinch the NL West to seven by winning the final two of their three-game set in San Francisco for their first series victory in three weeks. Cody Bellinger helped back strong performances by Clayton Kershaw and Yu Darvish in those victories, going a combined 4-for-6 with a triple, home run, three RBIs and four runs scored.
Pitchers: Dodgers – Alex Wood (14-3, 2.81 ERA) | Nationals – Edwin Jackson (5-5, 4.14)
Alex Wood had one of his worst outings of the season last time out when he allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks in five innings against Colorado on Saturday. Since posting a 1.56 ERA while winning each of his first 11 decisions, Wood is 3-3 with a 5.10 ERA while battling a sternum injury. He hasn’t faced Washington since 2015 and is 0-2 with a 2.85 ERA in four career starts at Nationals Park, but he has a 6-1 road record with a 2.38 ERA.
Edwin Jackson is coming off two bad starts and will look to rebound against L.A. on Friday. In the month of September, Jackson is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA after getting ripped for five runs on seven hits and three walks in a loss to Philadelphia on Saturday. Curtis Granderson (5-for-16) and Adrian Gonzalez (4-for-13) both have homered against Jackson, who is 4-3 with a 4.15 ERA in 10 career games (eight starts) versus the Dodgers.
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I really want to take Washington in this one, but I don’t trust Jackson right now. Wood has been struggling as well and after a day off for the Nationals’ stars, they’ll be ready for this one. I like both teams’ offense to have big nights and for this game to go over the total. Don’t forget to check out our pick in the Illinois vs. South Florida game tonight.
Pick: Over 9.5 -110
BETTING TRENDS:
- Dodgers are 21-6 in their last 27 Friday games.
- Dodgers are 16-5 in their last 21 games following an off day.
- Dodgers are 39-13 in their last 52 vs. National League East.
- Dodgers are 23-9 in their last 32 during game 1 of a series.
- Dodgers are 46-20 in their last 66 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Dodgers are 59-27 in their last 86 overall.
- Dodgers are 59-27 in their last 86 games on grass.
- Dodgers are 3-7 in their last 10 road games.
- Dodgers are 2-5 in their last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Dodgers are 3-13 in their last 16 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Dodgers are 3-13 in their last 16 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Dodgers are 1-6 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Dodgers are 8-0 in Wood’s last 8 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Dodgers are 7-1 in Wood’s last 8 road starts.
- Dodgers are 6-1 in Wood’s last 7 Friday starts.
- Dodgers are 5-1 in Wood’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Dodgers are 4-1 in Wood’s last 5 starts vs. National League East.
- Dodgers are 8-2 in Wood’s last 10 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Dodgers are 16-5 in Wood’s last 21 starts.
- Dodgers are 16-5 in Wood’s last 21 starts on grass.
- Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Nationals are 10-3 in their last 13 during game 1 of a series.
- Nationals are 20-8 in their last 28 vs. National League West.
- Nationals are 5-2 in their last 7 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Nationals are 7-3 in their last 10 home games.
- Nationals are 9-4 in their last 13 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Nationals are 5-0 in Jackson’s last 5 starts vs. National League West.
- Nationals are 3-8 in Jackson’s last 11 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 3-9 in Jackson’s last 12 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Nationals are 1-5 in Jackson’s last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Nationals are 0-4 in Jackson’s last 4 Friday starts.
- Over is 4-0 in Dodgers last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 6-0 in Dodgers last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 4-0 in Dodgers last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 7-1 in Dodgers last 8 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Over is 6-1 in Dodgers last 7 overall.
- Over is 6-1 in Dodgers last 7 on grass.
- Over is 6-1 in Dodgers last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 5-1 in Dodgers last 6 road games.
- Over is 4-1 in Dodgers last 5 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 5-1 in Wood’s last 6 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Wood’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Wood’s last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 6-2 in Wood’s last 8 starts on grass.
- Over is 6-2 in Wood’s last 8 starts overall.
- Over is 8-3 in Wood’s last 11 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Under is 8-2-4 in Nationals last 14 overall.
- Under is 8-2-4 in Nationals last 14 on grass.
- Under is 18-5-3 in Nationals last 26 vs. National League West.
- Under is 20-6-3 in Nationals last 29 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Nationals last 5 Friday games.
- Over is 9-4 in Nationals last 13 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 35-17-6 in Nationals last 58 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 4-0 in Jackson’s last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 9-2 in Jackson’s last 11 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Jackson’s last 6 starts on grass.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Jackson’s last 6 starts overall.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Jackson’s last 5 home starts.
- Under is 3-0-1 in the last 4 meetings.
- Over is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings in Washington.
- Dodgers are 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Washington.
- Dodgers are 11-5 in the last 16 meetings.
