Washington (57-51) at Arizona (54-55)
When: Friday, August 2nd, 2019
Where: Chase Field,
Phoenix, Arizona
Time: 9:40 ET | TV: MASN2, FS AZ
Opening Odds: Arizona -150/9.5
With the Arizona Diamondbacks still within striking distance of a wild card berth, the club dealt away ace Zack Greinke minutes before the trade deadline, but did manage to replace him with two starters that will be inserted immediately into the rotation. Robbie Ray now becomes the ace of the staff and he takes the mound on Friday when the D’backs open a three-game series with the Washington Nationals at Chase Field. Arizona comes home after a 2-4 road trip after splitting two games with the New York Yankees and enter the weekend one game below .500 and 3.5 games behind Washington for the second NL Wild Card spot. The team acquired right-hander Zac Gallen from the Miami Marlins earlier Wednesday before picking up four prospects from the Houston Astros in exchange for Greinke. The Diamondbacks also added veteran right-hander Mike Leake from the Seattle Mariners. The Nationals overhauled their bullpen at the trade deadline – a must need for this club to compete in the postseason – by adding veterans Daniel Hudson, Hunter Strickland and Roenis Elias in deals with the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. Washington dropped two of three at home to first place Atlanta after yesterday’s 5-4 extra-innings loss in which they came back from 4-1 down in the eighth inning. The teams split a four-game series in the middle of June in Washington with the over cashing in three of the four matchups.
Pitchers: Nationals – Joe Ross (0-3, 9.85 ERA) | Diamondbacks – Robbie Ray (9-7, 3.91)
Joe Ross is seeking his first win of 2019 in 19 appearances, although, he’s making just his second start and first since July 21st. He was stretched out in two long relief appearances and threw 98 pitches in his start at Atlanta when he gave up three runs and eight hits in 5.1 innings of a 7-1 loss. He was tagged for seven runs (six earned) and nine hits in 4.2 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday in relief and is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in two career starts against Arizona.
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Arizona is 4-1 in Ray’s last five starts, although he’s allowed three runs or more in each of his last three outings including a 5-1 loss at Miami last Sunday in which he allowed three runs (two earned) and seven hits in six innings. Rays is still striking out a lot of batter with 11 in the loss to Miami and 10 against Baltimore in his previous start. He allowed a season-high five earned runs at Washington on June 14th in the 7-3 setback.
The Diamondbacks have lost all six games that Ray has started against Washington, but that streak ends here. Ross has been pretty bad all season, either in short relief, long relief, or as a starter. The Arizona offense should have success against him here and Ray will come away with the victory.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Friday. He is 99-73 +1428 units on the season!
Pick: Diamondbacks -144
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BETTING TRENDS:
Nationals are 6-0 in their last 6 games following an off day.
Nationals are 10-2 in their last 12 during game 1 of a series.
Nationals are 7-2 in their last 9 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 7-2 in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Nationals are 22-7 in their last 29 vs. a team with a losing record.
Nationals are 9-3 in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
Nationals are 9-3 in their last 12 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Nationals are 8-3 in their last 11 games following a loss.
Nationals are 13-6 in their last 19 road games.
Nationals are 35-17 in their last 52 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 2-5 in their last 7 overall.
Nationals are 2-5 in their last 7 games on grass.
Nationals are 7-19 in their last 26 Friday games.
Nationals are 4-11 in their last 15 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Nationals are 7-1 in Ross’ last 8 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Nationals are 6-1 in Ross’ last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 7-2 in Ross’ last 9 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 5-2 in Ross’ last 7 starts during game 1 of a series.
Nationals are 17-7 in Ross’ last 24 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Nationals are 1-4 in Ross’ last 5 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 0-4 in Ross’ last 4 road starts.
Nationals are 0-4 in Ross’ last 4 starts.
Nationals are 0-4 in Ross’ last 4 starts on grass.
Diamondbacks are 4-1 in their last 5 games following a loss.
Diamondbacks are 11-3 in their last 14 games following an off day.
Diamondbacks are 5-2 in their last 7 during game 1 of a series.
Diamondbacks are 5-11 in their last 16 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Diamondbacks are 2-5 in their last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Diamondbacks are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. National League East.
Diamondbacks are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Diamondbacks are 1-5 in their last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Diamondbacks are 7-1 in Ray’s last 8 starts during game 1 of a series.
Diamondbacks are 7-1 in Ray’s last 8 Friday starts.
Diamondbacks are 4-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts.
Diamondbacks are 4-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts on grass.
Diamondbacks are 7-3 in Ray’s last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Diamondbacks are 2-5 in Ray’s last 7 starts with 4 days of rest.
Under is 9-1 in Nationals last 10 road games.
Under is 5-1-1 in Nationals last 7 games following an off day.
Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 Friday games.
Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 10-3 in Nationals last 13 vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 9-3 in Nationals last 12 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Under is 9-3-1 in Nationals last 13 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 19-7 in Nationals last 26 overall.
Under is 19-7 in Nationals last 26 on grass.
Under is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 7-3 in Nationals last 10 vs. National League West.
Under is 13-6-1 in Nationals last 20 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Ross’ last 4 starts on grass.
Under is 4-0 in Ross’ last 4 starts overall.
Over is 5-1 in Ross’ last 6 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 13-3-1 in Ross’ last 17 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 4-1 in Ross’ last 5 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 3-1-1 in Ross’ last 5 starts vs. National League West.
Over is 5-2 in Ross’ last 7 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Over is 2-0-2 in Diamondbacks last 4 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 3-0-1 in Diamondbacks last 4 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 3-0-1 in Diamondbacks last 4 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 7-1-1 in Diamondbacks last 9 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Over is 4-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 3-1-2 in Diamondbacks last 6 home games.
Over is 5-2-1 in Diamondbacks last 8 games following a loss.
Over is 5-2 in Diamondbacks last 7 vs. National League East.
Over is 5-2-1 in Diamondbacks last 8 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 51-22-2 in Diamondbacks last 75 games following an off day.
Over is 5-1 in Ray’s last 6 Friday starts.
Under is 4-1-1 in Ray’s last 6 home starts.
Under is 4-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 3-1-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts with 4 days of rest.
Over is 12-4 in Ray’s last 16 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Under is 3-1-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts on grass.
Over is 6-2-1 in Ray’s last 9 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 3-1-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts overall.
Over is 15-6-1 in Ray’s last 22 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 15-7-1 in Ray’s last 23 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Arizona.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Nationals are 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.
Nationals are 19-7 in the last 26 meetings in Arizona.
Diamondbacks are 0-6 in Ray’s last 6 starts vs. Nationals.
