Philadelphia (41-33) at Washington (40-35)
When: Sunday, June 24th 2018
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Washington -114/9
The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals for the second straight day on Saturday – as we predicted – and go for the series sweep on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball as Nick Pivetta squares-off against Nationals rookie Jefry Rodriguez. Washington is getting nothing from their offense lately and have lost nine of its last 12 games, averaging three runs in that span. Philadelphia has outscored the Nationals 17-5 in winning the first two games of this weekend series. The heart of the Nationals order is not producing including star right fielder Bryce Harper, who is batting .149 with one home run, five RBIs and 24 strikeouts in 19 games this month. The Phillies are a game and a half ahead of Washington in the National League East standings now, right behind first place Atlanta, who has lost three straight. Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco, who is no longer an every day player, made the most of his at bats Saturday, going 4-for-4, matching his total from the previous 11 games. The Phillies have won nine of the last 12 overall and could get relief pitcher Pat Neshek (shoulder, forearm) back soon. He made his first rehab appearance on Saturday with Class A Advanced Clearwater and struck out a pair in a scoreless inning.
Pitchers: Phillies – Nick Pivetta (4-6, 4.08 ERA) | Nationals – Jefry Rodriguez (0-0, 4.66)
Pivetta hasn’t recorded a win since beating Atlanta over a month ago, but was terrific in a no-decision Monday against St. Louis, striking out a career-high 13 over 7.1 innings. Pivetta struggled in his last encounter with Washington on May 4th, allowing six runs on five hits and three walks in one-plus innings and surrendered a pair of home runs to Harper.
Rodriguez will make his second career start and he’s hoping this one goes better than the first. He was hit hard by the lowly Orioles for five runs in five innings – two home runs – while walking three. He helped his ERA by tossing 4.2 scoreless innings of relief in his first career appearance on June 3rd at Atlanta. Rodriguez went 5-3 with a 3.31 ERA in 13 starts for Double-A Harrisburg before being recalled.
The Phillies have Washington’s number at least for this weekend. The Nationals have no offense right now and scored their only two runs Saturday on a two-run single by Daniel Murphy. The Phillies bats are alive right now and should easily handle the rookie pitcher.
Pick: Phillies +100
BETTING TRENDS:
- Phillies are 4-0 in their last 4 during game 3 of a series.
- Phillies are 8-1 in their last 9 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Phillies are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 5-1 in their last 6 overall.
- Phillies are 5-1 in their last 6 games on grass.
- Phillies are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. National League East.
- Phillies are 26-53 in their last 79 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 30-64 in their last 94 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Phillies are 3-7 in their last 10 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Phillies are 5-1 in Pivetta’s last 6 Sunday starts.
- Phillies are 8-2 in Pivetta’s last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 7-2 in Pivetta’s last 9 starts vs. National League East.
- Phillies are 2-7 in Pivetta’s last 9 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 1-4 in Pivetta’s last 5 starts.
- Phillies are 1-4 in Pivetta’s last 5 starts on grass.
- Phillies are 0-5 in Pivetta’s last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Nationals are 9-3 in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 15-7 in their last 22 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 2-6 in their last 8 overall.
- Nationals are 2-6 in their last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Nationals are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. National League East.
- Nationals are 1-4 in their last 5 Sunday games.
- Under is 5-1 in Phillies last 6 vs. National League East.
- Over is 8-2 in Phillies last 10 overall.
- Over is 8-2 in Phillies last 10 on grass.
- Over is 4-1 in Phillies last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 4-1 in Phillies last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 18-7-2 in Phillies last 27 Sunday games.
- Under is 5-2 in Phillies last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 15-7-1 in Phillies last 23 during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Pivetta’s last 7 road starts.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Pivetta’s last 6 starts vs. National League East.
- Under is 6-2-2 in Pivetta’s last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 7-3 in Pivetta’s last 10 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Under is 6-1 in Nationals last 7 vs. National League East.
- Under is 6-1 in Nationals last 7 during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 8-2 in Nationals last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 19-7 in Nationals last 26 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 25-10 in Nationals last 35 on grass.
- Under is 17-7 in Nationals last 24 overall.
- Under is 7-3 in Nationals last 10 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Phillies are 11-25 in the last 36 meetings.
- Phillies are 6-15 in the last 21 meetings in Washington.
