Washington (10-11) at LA Dodgers (9-10)
When: Sunday, April 22nd 2018
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -175/8
The Washington Nationals have had their issues with the Los Angeles Dodgers over the past few seasons, but have a chance to win their weekend series when they play the rubber-match on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. After taking the opener with Max Scherzer out-dueling Clayton Kershaw, the Nationals failed to score a run in Saturday night’s 4-0 setback. Washington is currently 3-2 on their nine-game road trip that will take them to San Francisco on Monday. The Nationals are in fourth place in the NL East – a division their suppose to runaway with – 2.5 games behind third place Atlanta. Washington is hoping third baseman Anthony Rendon, who has missed seven straight games with a toe injury, can be back in the lineup on Sunday. The Dodgers have climbed up to third place in the NL West by winning five of their last six games and will see the lowly Miami Marlins come to town Monday. Outfielder Joc Pederson has lost playing time to Matt Kemp while struggling at the plate, but has started the last three games and went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday’s victory. Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner (wrist) hit off a tee for the first time on Friday and remains on schedule to return sometime next month. The Dodgers are 13-7 against the Nationals since the start of the 2015 season.
Pitchers: Nationals – Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 3.86 ERA) | Dodgers – Alex Wood (0-2, 3.91)
The much-traveled Jeremy Hellickson will make his second start for Washington on Sunday after allowing two runs in 4.2 innings in his debut against the New York Mets on Monday. Hellickson was signed to a minor-league contract in March after pitching for both Baltimore and Philadelphia last season, recording a 5.43 ERA over 30 starts. He is 0-1 with a 6.88 ERA in four career starts versus the Dodgers.
Lack of run support has prevented Alex Wood from earning a victory this season after the Dodgers failed to score a single run in his first two outings. Wood bounced back from his worst outing of the season against Oakland by giving up an unearned run and two hits over 5.1 innings versus San Diego on Tuesday. Wood has limited batters to a .186 average and boasts 22 strikeouts against just one walk. He is 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 career starts against Washington, including six scoreless innings at Nationals Park last September.
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The Dodgers are hot right now and the pitching matchup overwhelmingly favors Wood in this one. I don’t like taking prices this high, so I’m going to bank on L.A. hitting Hellickson here and take the runline.
Pick: Dodgers -1.5 +125
BETTING TRENDS:
- Nationals are 23-9 in their last 32 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 12-5 in their last 17 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Nationals are 1-4 in their last 5 during game 3 of a series.
- Nationals are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Dodgers are 6-1 in their last 7 Sunday games.
- Dodgers are 5-1 in their last 6 overall.
- Dodgers are 5-1 in their last 6 games on grass.
- Dodgers are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Dodgers are 40-11 in their last 51 home games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Dodgers are 7-2 in their last 9 during game 3 of a series.
- Dodgers are 50-17 in their last 67 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Dodgers are 71-25 in their last 96 games following a win.
- Dodgers are 43-18 in their last 61 vs. National League East.
- Dodgers are 43-19 in their last 62 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Dodgers are 81-36 in their last 117 home games.
- Dodgers are 76-34 in their last 110 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Dodgers are 57-26 in their last 83 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Dodgers are 25-12 in their last 37 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Dodgers are 43-21 in their last 64 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Dodgers are 7-2 in Wood’s last 9 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Dodgers are 13-4 in Wood’s last 17 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Dodgers are 5-2 in Wood’s last 7 starts vs. National League East.
- Dodgers are 10-4 in Wood’s last 14 home starts.
- Dodgers are 20-8 in Wood’s last 28 starts.
- Dodgers are 20-8 in Wood’s last 28 starts on grass.
- Dodgers are 2-5 in Wood’s last 7 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Dodgers are 2-7 in Wood’s last 9 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Dodgers are 1-5 in Wood’s last 6 Sunday starts.
- Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 Sunday games.
- Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Nationals last 6 during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 23-7-3 in Nationals last 33 vs. National League West.
- Over is 6-2-2 in Nationals last 10 road games.
- Over is 5-2-2 in Nationals last 9 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Over is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 overall.
- Over is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 on grass.
- Over is 5-0 in Dodgers last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 5-0 in Dodgers last 5 games following a win.
- Over is 8-1 in Dodgers last 9 overall.
- Over is 8-1 in Dodgers last 9 on grass.
- Over is 8-1 in Dodgers last 9 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 6-1 in Dodgers last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 5-1 in Dodgers last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 5-1 in Dodgers last 6 home games.
- Over is 4-1 in Dodgers last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Dodgers last 5 vs. National League East.
- Over is 23-9-1 in Dodgers last 33 home games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 7-3 in Dodgers last 10 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Over is 8-1 in Wood’s last 9 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 20-6 in Wood’s last 26 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 5-2 in Wood’s last 7 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Over is 5-2 in Wood’s last 7 home starts.
- Over is 9-4 in Wood’s last 13 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 11-5 in Wood’s last 16 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Los Angeles.
- Under is 6-2-1 in the last 9 meetings.
- Nationals are 16-35 in the last 51 meetings in Los Angeles.
