Philadelphia (3-0) at Washington (1-2)
When: Tuesday, April 2nd, 2019
Where: Nationals Park,
Washington, DC
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Washington -206/7
The season series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals consists of 19 games and everyone of them should be in some way entertaining. The first of those matchups occurs Tuesday night in the Nation’s Capital with Bryce Harper facing his former team for the first time and he expects some cheers and boos from the crowd. “I think I’ll be cheered, I really do. But I think I’ll get booed, too. It’s part of sports, right?” Harper has already started hearing MVP chants from Citizens Bank Park after belting two home runs in the Phillies’ three-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves to open the season, and Philadelphia is the only undefeated team left in the league. It will be incredibly hard to make it four straight, as the Phils go up against three-time Cy Young Award Winner Max Scherzer in the opener of a brief two-game series, while the Phillies will counter with Zack Eflin. Scherzer lost to the Mets’ Jacob deGrom 2-0 on Opening Day, but the Nationals’ offense rebounded with 14 runs in splitting the next two games, winning Sunday’s contest 6-5 on a walk-off home run by Trea Turner – his second of the game. The Washington shortstop was 23-for-76 against Philadelphia last season, while 3B Anthony Rendon was 24-for-69 with six homers and 15 RBI.
Pitchers: Phillies – Zach Eflin (2018: 11-8, 4.36 ERA) | Nationals – Max Scherzer (0-1, 2.35 ERA)
Eflin started three games against Washington in 2018 and after an impressive first outing (12-2 Phillies win), he was rocked for 10 runs in 8.2 innings in taking the loss both times. Eflin allowed 16 home runs in 11 starts (64.1 innings) in 2017, but was much better last year when he surrendered the same amount in 24 starts (128 innings).
Scherzer moved up in the rotation to pitch on regular rest and – who are we kidding – he wanted first crack at Harper and the Phillies. The righty has faced the Phillies 17 times in his career and boasts a 9-2 record and 2.64 ERA, but did lose his lone decision in three starts against them in 2018 despite striking out 30 batters in 18.1 innings. New York’s Robinson Cano homered of Scherzer in the first inning last week, but he allowed just one hit after that and took the tough luck loss despite striking out 12 in 7.2 innings.
All the hype is going to be on Scherzer vs. Harper in this one. Scherzer is one of the top pitchers in all of baseball and usually does well against the Phillies, but this is a different lineup than he’s faced in the past. I’m not willing to lay this much against a team that is hitting the cover off the ball right now. Give me the big dog here.
Pick: Phillies +182
BETTING TRENDS:
Phillies are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. National League East.
Phillies are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Phillies are 4-0 in their last 4 games following a win.
Phillies are 5-0 in their last 5 overall.
Phillies are 5-0 in their last 5 games on grass.
Phillies are 5-1 in their last 6 games following an off day.
Phillies are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Phillies are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Phillies are 5-2 in their last 7 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Phillies are 2-6 in their last 8 Tuesday games.
Phillies are 7-21 in their last 28 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Phillies are 7-24 in their last 31 road games.
Phillies are 1-4 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Phillies are 6-2 in Eflin’s last 8 Tuesday starts.
Phillies are 2-5 in Eflin’s last 7 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Phillies are 2-5 in Eflin’s last 7 starts.
Phillies are 2-5 in Eflin’s last 7 starts on grass.
Phillies are 2-6 in Eflin’s last 8 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Phillies are 1-5 in Eflin’s last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.
Phillies are 1-5 in Eflin’s last 6 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Phillies are 0-6 in Eflin’s last 6 road starts.
Phillies are 0-7 in Eflin’s last 7 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Nationals are 8-1 in their last 9 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Nationals are 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 35-16 in their last 51 Tuesday games.
Nationals are 2-6 in their last 8 games following a win.
Nationals are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Nationals are 1-6 in their last 7 during game 1 of a series.
Nationals are 0-4 in their last 4 games following an off day.
Nationals are 4-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Nationals are 11-3 in Scherzer’s last 14 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Nationals are 12-4 in Scherzer’s last 16 starts during game 1 of a series.
Nationals are 56-24 in Scherzer’s last 80 starts on grass.
Nationals are 23-10 in Scherzer’s last 33 home starts.
Nationals are 35-16 in Scherzer’s last 51 starts with 4 days of rest.
Nationals are 56-26 in Scherzer’s last 82 starts.
Nationals are 43-21 in Scherzer’s last 64 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Nationals are 2-5 in Scherzer’s last 7 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-0 in Phillies last 6 during game 1 of a series.
Over is 4-1 in Phillies last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Over is 3-1-1 in Phillies last 5 games following an off day.
Under is 6-2-1 in Phillies last 9 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Over is 5-2 in Phillies last 7 Tuesday games.
Over is 7-3-1 in Phillies last 11 road games.
Over is 6-2 in Eflin’s last 8 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Eflin’s last 7 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Eflin’s last 7 starts vs. National League East.
Over is 5-2 in Eflin’s last 7 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 7-3 in Eflin’s last 10 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 17-8 in Eflin’s last 25 road starts.
Over is 6-1 in Nationals last 7 vs. National League East.
Over is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Over is 8-2 in Nationals last 10 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 8-2 in Nationals last 10 on grass.
Over is 7-2 in Nationals last 9 games following a win.
Under is 12-4 in Nationals last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 6-2 in Nationals last 8 Tuesday games.
Over is 4-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Over is 4-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 starts on grass.
Over is 4-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 starts overall.
Over is 4-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 starts vs. National League East.
Over is 5-2 in Scherzer’s last 7 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 5-2 in Scherzer’s last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Scherzer’s last 7 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 11-5-1 in Scherzer’s last 17 Tuesday starts.
Over is 19-9-3 in Scherzer’s last 31 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Nationals are 13-2 in Scherzer’s last 15 starts vs. Phillies.
Over is 5-1 in Scherzer’s last 6 starts vs. Phillies.
Nationals are 4-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 home starts vs. Phillies.
Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Washington.
Phillies are 8-18 in the last 26 meetings in Washington.
Phillies are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings.
