Washington (23-18) at Arizona (24-15)
When: Sunday, May 13th 2018
Where: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Arizona -139/8
The Washington Nationals struggled out of the gate this season, but with the solid pitching staff they have, it was only a matter of time before they started putting things together. Winners of 12 of their last 14 contests, the Nationals look for a four-game sweep in the desert when they face the Arizona Diamondbacks on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Washington has won the first three games despite scoring only seven runs thanks to a pitching staff that has held Arizona to a single run each time out. After an 11-16 start, the Nationals are now five games over .500 and just a game and a half behind Atlanta in the NL East. The Diamondbacks have lost a season-high four straight games and will lose their first series of the season. Arizona turns to right-hander Zack Godley, who beat the Nationals just over two weeks ago. He’ll oppose fellow righty Jeremy Hellickson, who has been a nice addition to the Washington rotation. Arizona outfielder David Peralta is riding a six-game hitting streak and is 2-for-4 with two homers versus Hellickson. Nationals catcher Pedro Severino also owns a six-game hitting streak in which he is 7-for-21 during it.
Pitchers: Nationals – Jeremy Hellickson (1-0, 2.28 ERA) | Diamondbacks – Zack Godley (4-2, 3.83)
Hellickson has allowed three or fewer runs in all five of his starts this season and hasn’t given up a run in his last 12.1 innings. Hellickson had a perfect game through six innings last time out at San Diego, finishing with eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings. He is 0-3 with a 4.94 ERA in five starts against Arizona.
The struggling Godley has recorded only one quality start in his last five games and gave up four runs in 5.2 innings in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, walking four. He is 3-1 with a 4.00 ERA in six games (four starts) against the Nationals.
I’ve never been high on Hellickson, but he has proven me wrong this year so far, and I expect him to keep the D’Backs bats cold. Washington is on a roll right now, playing like the team that won the last two NL East titles. I say they get the sweep here.
Pick: Nationals +115
BETTING TRENDS:
- Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Nationals are 7-0 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Nationals are 9-1 in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 11-2 in their last 13 overall.
- Nationals are 11-2 in their last 13 games on grass.
- Nationals are 5-1 in their last 6 road games.
- Nationals are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. National League West.
- Nationals are 13-3 in their last 16 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Nationals are 7-3 in their last 10 during game 4 of a series.
- Diamondbacks are 8-3 in their last 11 Sunday games.
- Diamondbacks are 2-5 in their last 7 home games.
- Diamondbacks are 1-4 in their last 5 games after losing the first 3 games of a series.
- Diamondbacks are 7-1 in Godleys last 8 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Diamondbacks are 11-3 in Godleys last 14 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Diamondbacks are 6-2 in Godleys last 8 starts vs. National League East.
- Diamondbacks are 5-2 in Godleys last 7 starts.
- Diamondbacks are 5-2 in Godleys last 7 starts on grass.
- Diamondbacks are 2-5 in Godleys last 7 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Diamondbacks are 1-4 in Godleys last 5 Sunday starts.
- Under is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 overall.
- Under is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 on grass.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Nationals last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 Sunday games.
- Under is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Under is 35-16-6 in Nationals last 57 road games.
- Under is 24-11-3 in Nationals last 38 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 32-15-4 in Nationals last 51 vs. National League West.
- Under is 4-0 in Hellicksons last 4 starts on grass.
- Under is 4-0 in Hellicksons last 4 starts overall.
- Under is 6-0-1 in Diamondbacks last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 5-0 in Diamondbacks last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 6-0 in Diamondbacks last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-0 in Diamondbacks last 4 vs. National League East.
- Under is 5-0 in Diamondbacks last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 during game 4 of a series.
- Under is 5-0 in Diamondbacks last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 Sunday games.
- Under is 7-2-1 in Diamondbacks last 10 overall.
- Under is 7-2-1 in Diamondbacks last 10 on grass.
- Under is 18-7-1 in Diamondbacks last 26 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 18-7-2 in Diamondbacks last 27 home games.
- Under is 5-0 in Godleys last 5 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Godleys last 5 Sunday starts.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Godleys last 5 starts on grass.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Godleys last 5 starts overall.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Godleys last 5 home starts.
- Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Arizona.
- Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
- Over is 4-0 in Godleys last 4 starts vs. Nationals.
- Nationals are 16-5 in the last 21 meetings in Arizona.
- Nationals are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
