Washington (80-64) at Minnesota (89-56)
When: Thursday, September 12, 2019
Where: Target Field,
Minneapolis, MN
Time: 7:40 ET | TV: MASN, FS North
Opening Odds: Washington -110/10
The Washington Nationals still hold a comfortable lead in the National League wild card standings, but have been slumping a bit on their current road trip before getting a big win in Minnesota on Wednesday. They’ll look for back-to-back wins for the first time since Sept. 2-3 when they play the rubber match Thursday against the Twins with Patrick Corbin going for Washington against Kyle Gibson. The Nationals had dropped five of six prior to Wednesday’s 6-2 victory to improve to 2-4 on their seven-game road trip and lead the wild card race by three games over the Cubs pending Chicago’s late game in San Diego. Ryan Zimmerman collected three hits – including a two-run homer – three RBI, and is 7-for-24 with three dingers and 10 RBI in seven games since returning from almost six weeks on the injured list. Minnesota saw its lead in the AL Central shrink to four games over Cleveland with the loss after going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The Twins were still without several regulars Wednesday including C.J. Cron (thumb), Miguel Sano (back), Max Kepler (shoulder) and Marwin Gonzalez (oblique). Jorge Polanco accounted for both of Minnesota’s run Wednesday with a two-run homer.
Pitchers: Nationals – Patrick Corbin (11-7, 3.16 ERA) | Twins – Kyle Gibson (13-6, 4.58)
Corbin would be an ace on most teams, but is almost the forgotten man behind Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg on this terrific Washington staff. He took the loss last time out when he allowed just two runs (one earned) on three hits over five innings, but six walks did him in. He has only 60 walks on the season, but nine of them have come over the last two outings. Corbin, who is 4-5 with a 4.45 ERA on the road, is 7-6 with a 3.61 ERA in 19 career interleague games (17 starts).
Gibson will be seeking his third straight victory but hasn’t pitched since August 30th due to ulcerative colitis and is 4-9 with a 5.47 ERA in interleague play. He received 21 runs of support in his last two starts and allowed 10 hits in each of those contests, but boasts a 146-to-45 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 149.1 innings. Gibson’s only outing against the Nationals was a disaster after he surrendered seven runs over three innings back in 2016.
I think the pitching matchup favors Corbin and the Nationals here. It was good to see Washington get a win last night to gain some confidence back and they’ll end the road trip on a winning note.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Thursday. He is 127-86 +2853 units on the season after a 28-13 run!
Pick: Nationals -118
BETTING TRENDS:
Nationals are 7-2 in their last 9 during game 3 of a series.
Nationals are 23-9 in their last 32 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 10-4 in their last 14 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 5-2 in their last 7 Thursday games.
Nationals are 5-2 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 12-5 in their last 17 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 9-4 in their last 13 vs. American League Central.
Nationals are 2-5 in their last 7 overall.
Nationals are 2-5 in their last 7 games on grass.
Nationals are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 1-5 in their last 6 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 6-0 in Corbin’s last 6 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 6-0 in Corbin’s last 6 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 6-1 in Corbin’s last 7 starts during game 3 of a series.
Nationals are 7-3 in Corbin’s last 10 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 1-4 in Corbin’s last 5 road starts.
Nationals are 1-4 in Corbin’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Nationals are 1-4 in Corbin’s last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
Twins are 4-1 in their last 5 during game 3 of a series.
Twins are 23-7 in their last 30 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Twins are 24-8 in their last 32 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Twins are 41-16 in their last 57 games following a loss.
Twins are 41-16 in their last 57 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Twins are 5-2 in their last 7 Thursday games.
Twins are 12-5 in their last 17 overall.
Twins are 12-5 in their last 17 games on grass.
Twins are 40-18 in their last 58 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Twins are 16-33 in their last 49 vs. National League East.
Twins are 2-5 in their last 7 interleague home games.
Twins are 3-8 in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Twins are 3-8 in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Twins are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Twins are 0-5 in their last 5 interleague home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Twins are 0-9 in their last 9 interleague games vs. a left-handed starter.
Twins are 5-0 in Gibson’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Twins are 6-1 in Gibson’s last 7 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Twins are 10-3 in Gibson’s last 13 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Twins are 10-3 in Gibson’s last 13 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Twins are 6-2 in Gibson’s last 8 starts during game 3 of a series.
Twins are 2-6 in Gibson’s last 8 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 vs. American League Central.
Under is 5-0 in Nationals last 5 interleague road games.
Over is 7-1 in Nationals last 8 during game 3 of a series.
Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 road games.
Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 on grass.
Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 overall.
Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 14-3 in Nationals last 17 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 13-3 in Nationals last 16 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-1-1 in Nationals last 6 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 36-16 in Nationals last 52 interleague games.
Under is 35-16 in Nationals last 51 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 15-7 in Nationals last 22 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 8-0 in Corbin’s last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-0 in Corbin’s last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-1 in Corbin’s last 7 starts with 5 days of rest.
Under is 4-1 in Corbin’s last 5 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 10-3 in Corbin’s last 13 starts on grass.
Under is 10-3 in Corbin’s last 13 starts overall.
Under is 6-2 in Corbin’s last 8 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-2 in Corbin’s last 8 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Corbin’s last 7 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Under is 5-0-1 in Twins last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 9-0 in Twins last 9 on grass.
Under is 7-0-1 in Twins last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-0 in Twins last 5 home games.
Under is 4-0 in Twins last 4 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 8-0 in Twins last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 9-0 in Twins last 9 overall.
Under is 7-0-1 in Twins last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 4-0 in Twins last 4 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Twins last 4 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 10-2-1 in Twins last 13 interleague home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 5-1 in Twins last 6 Thursday games.
Over is 20-7-1 in Twins last 28 interleague games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 13-5 in Twins last 18 games following a loss.
Over is 18-7-1 in Twins last 26 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 5-2 in Twins last 7 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 7-3 in Twins last 10 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 7-0-1 in Gibson’s last 8 starts on grass.
Over is 5-0 in Gibson’s last 5 interleague starts.
Over is 7-0-1 in Gibson’s last 8 starts overall.
Over is 4-0-1 in Gibson’s last 5 home starts.
Over is 7-0 in Gibson’s last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-0 in Gibson’s last 6 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Gibson’s last 5 starts vs. National League East.
Under is 6-2 in Gibson’s last 8 Thursday starts.
Over is 5-2 in Gibson’s last 7 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
Nationals are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings in Minnesota.
