ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS @ WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Baseball : North America : MLB
Tuesday, May 1st, 2012, 7:05PM US
(12:05AM GMT)

---

PREVIEW

The Washington Nationals are 14-8 now, which looks ok, but is not, as they have dropped their last 4 games in a row. They're back home now, where they have gone 8-2, and with a pitcher in form, look set to bounce back. Arizona are 12-11 and off 2 wins.

The Diamondbacks will send Trevor Cahill to the mound to get things started. The right-handed pitcher is 1-2 with a 3.70ERA so far and he has been roughed up his last 2 trips to the hill. Atlanta hit him for 7 runs, 4 of which were earned, in under 6 innings of work, and then the Phillies took 4 runs off him in his last start.

Despite Cahill's first 2 starts being good, his recent form is cause for concern because he is pitching away from home, against a quality opponent with a great record this season, off more losses than they deserve.

The Nationals pitching corps have done an amazing job this season. The starters have a 1.78ERA between them, and opposing hitters are batting just .186 against him. Now they send Jordan Zimmermann to continue the good work. You;d have to believe he will as well, with a 1-1 record and a very dominant 1.33ERA. In each of his 4 starts he has given up just 1 earned run.

Washington are not scoring a bunch themselves, just 3.36, but Arizona are giving up 4.43, so that matches up well. Cahill does not look reliable at all, with runs always a danger, and against a hungry Washington side that has scored fewer than they are good for over this losing streak, I fear a break-out from the offence could sink him over just a bad inning or two. However, Zimmerman continues to look solid, and so I have to think Washington will finally get back in the win column tonight.

BETTING VERDICT

I've found 1.72 on Washington and I think I will respect Arizonas recent pitching enough to not bother with any handicap punts. Let's keep it simple and take the Nationals to come back home tonight and win this opener.

The Pick :

Washington Nationals

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take the Washington Nationals to win @ 1.72 (Pinnacle)