NY Yankees (0-0) at Washington (0-0)
When: Thursday, July 23rd 2020
Where: Nationals Park,
Washington, DC
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: New York -135
After a long, long wait, Opening Day Baseball has finally arrived and the schedule kicks off with a terrific pitching matchup. The Washington Nationals begin defense of their World Series title by hosting the New York Yankees on Thursday with no fans in attendance. The Nationals used strong pitching and timely hitting to beat the Houston Astros in October despite a poor start to the 2019 season. With a 60-game season in 2020, it will be important not to get into too deep of a hole. The pitching matchup is identical to Game 1 of the World Series, which saw Washington ace Max Scherzer face Gerrit Cole, who left the Astros in December by signing a huge deal with the Yankees. Cole will be backed by the best lineup in baseball that led the majors in runs scored in 2019 while hitting a team-record 306 home runs. The Yankees fell to Houston in the American League Championship Series last Fall, but are the betting favorites coming into 2020. The National League will use a designated hitter all season, and the Nationals are expected to use utilityman Howie Kendrick at the onset. The teams last met in 2018, splitting four games.
Pitchers: Yankees – Gerrit Cole (20-5, 2.50 ERA) | Nationals Max Scherzer (11-7, 2.92)
Cole has not lost a decision in the regular season since May 22, 2019 – a string of 16 consecutive and will look to get off to a strong start with his new team. He went 35-10 with a 2.68 ERA in two seasons with Houston and led the majors with 326 strikeouts last year. He dominated the Nationals in Game 5 of the World Series, limiting them to one run and just three hits over seven innings. Cole boasts a 2.92 ERA in six career regular-season matchups with Washington.
Scherzer was rocked in his only summer camp game last weekend when the Phillies pounded him for seven runs including two three-run homers (Bryce Harper, Didi Gregorious). He has posted a sub-3.00 ERA in each of his five seasons with the Nationals while winning the Cy Young twice. Scherzer is a seven-time All-Star, who worked five innings in the decisive Game 7 versus Houston last October. He is 4-3 with a 4.04 ERA in seven career starts against the Yankees.
I’m taking the Yankees here on the road as a favorite. I don’t like taking road favs, but with empty ballparks around the league, is there really a homefield advantage? Cole has looked great in his preparation for his first start in pinstripes and the Yankees offense will get it done versus Scherzer.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for today. He finished 135-95 +2686 units in 2019!
Pick: Yankees -145
BETTING TRENDS:
Yankees are 4-1 in their last 5 games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Yankees are 46-19 in their last 65 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Yankees are 57-24 in their last 81 games as a favorite.
Yankees are 62-28 in their last 90 games on grass.
Yankees are 11-5 in their last 16 Thursday games.
Yankees are 3-7 in their last 10 during game 1 of a series.
Yankees are 3-7 in their last 10 road games.
Yankees are 2-5 in their last 7 games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Yankees are 2-7 in their last 9 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Yankees are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
Yankees are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Yankees are 1-4 in their last 5 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Yankees are 0-4 in their last 4 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 5-1 in their last 6 during game 1 of a series.
Nationals are 5-1 in their last 6 games following an off day.
Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Nationals are 6-2 in their last 8 games as an underdog.
Nationals are 9-3 in their last 12 interleague games.
Nationals are 9-3 in their last 12 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Nationals are 19-7 in their last 26 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 8-3 in their last 11 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Nationals are 5-2 in their last 7 interleague games as an underdog.
Nationals are 27-11 in their last 38 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Nationals are 7-3 in their last 10 Thursday games.
Nationals are 44-19 in their last 63 overall.
Nationals are 44-19 in their last 63 games on grass.
Nationals are 9-4 in their last 13 home games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Nationals are 35-16 in their last 51 home games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Nationals are 38-18 in their last 56 home games.
Nationals are 43-21 in their last 64 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Nationals are 19-39 in their last 58 games as a home underdog.
Nationals are 2-7 in their last 9 vs. American League East.
Under is 6-1 in Yankees last 7 interleague road games.
Under is 15-3 in Yankees last 18 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 5-1 in Yankees last 6 games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Under is 4-1 in Yankees last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 4-1 in Yankees last 5 road games.
Under is 4-1 in Yankees last 5 road games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Over is 10-3 in Yankees last 13 road games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Under is 16-5-2 in Yankees last 23 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 6-2 in Yankees last 8 games as a favorite.
Over is 6-2 in Yankees last 8 Thursday games.
Under is 3-1-1 in Yankees last 5 road games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Under is 20-7-1 in Yankees last 28 games following an off day.
Under is 5-2 in Yankees last 7 overall.
Under is 5-2 in Yankees last 7 on grass.
Under is 5-2 in Yankees last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 18-8 in Yankees last 26 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 15-7 in Yankees last 22 vs. National League East.
Over is 3-0-1 in Nationals last 4 overall.
Over is 3-0-1 in Nationals last 4 on grass.
Over is 3-0-1 in Nationals last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Over is 3-0-1 in Nationals last 4 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Over is 4-0-1 in Nationals last 5 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Over is 4-0-1 in Nationals last 5 home games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Over is 9-1-1 in Nationals last 11 interleague games.
Over is 9-1-1 in Nationals last 11 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 5-1-1 in Nationals last 7 interleague games as an underdog.
Over is 5-1-1 in Nationals last 7 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 5-1-1 in Nationals last 7 interleague home games.
Over is 5-1-1 in Nationals last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Over is 4-1-1 in Nationals last 6 games as an underdog.
Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 vs. American League East.
Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 home games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Over is 7-2-1 in Nationals last 10 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 3-1-1 in Nationals last 5 Thursday games.
Over is 3-1-1 in Nationals last 5 home games.
Over is 5-2 in Nationals last 7 games following an off day.
Over is 7-3-2 in Nationals last 12 games a home underdog.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Washington.
Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
