MLB Baseball
2012-05-21 - Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillie
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Monday 21 May 2012 - First Pitch 7:05pm ET
12:05am (British Standard Time)
Preview
The Washington Nationals (24-17) head to Citizens Park to open up a series with the Philadelphia Phillies (21-21) in a bid to open up a lead over their National League East rivals. The Nationals play their next 15 games against Divisional rivals and this could already be seen as an important part of their season.
Washington were actually on a 3 game losing run before beating the Baltimore Orioles yesterday, while Philadelphia were beaten by the Boston Red Sox the last two nights following a 6 game winning run.
The Nationals will look to get off to a good start in the series by sending Gio Gonzalez to the mound who has a 5-1 record and a 2.22 ERA this season. The pitcher has won his last three starts for the Nationals and he has struck out 26 batters in that time.
He has just pitched once against the Phillies, limiting them to 1 earned run in 7 innings earlier this season.
Philadelphia will be looking to get back into the win column by handing the ball to Kyle Kendrick who continues to fill in the starting rotation due to Vance Worley's injury. Kendrick has a 0-3 record and a 5.96 ERA this season, but he is coming off a strong start against the Chicago Cubs.
Kendrick has given up just 4 runs in 17 innings pitched for Philadelphia and held the Cubs to 1 earned run from 6 innings pitched in his last outing. The pitcher also has a 1-0 record and a 1.96 ERA in his last 4 starts against the Nationals.
The pitcher gave up just 1 run in 5 innings pitched against Washington earlier this season and has allowed 3 runs in the last 17 innings pitched against them since giving up 25 runs in 19 innings before that.
Head to Head
This is the second series of the season between the teams after Washington took 2 of 3 games at home earlier this month.
Philadelphia were swept 4-0 by the Nationals when they last hosted them in this ballpark last September and they are now 1-5 in their last 6 at home against them.
Philadelphia are 10-11 at home, Washington are 9-9 on the road this season.
Prediction
Philadelphia were very unfortunate to lose two out of three against the Boston Red Sox as they left too many men on bases throughout that series and they will not be able to be so profligate in this game as they are facing a tough pitcher in Gio Gonzalez.
The Phillies have been up and down all season and they haven't had the best consistency at the plate. It could be tough for them to find that against Gonzalez and that may lead to pressure on Kyle Kendrick and the bullpen.
Kendrick has been starting in place of Vance Worley and hasn't done too badly, but I think the edge is definitely with Gonzalez and the Nationals and I will take them to take the first game of this series.
The Pick :
Philadelphia Phillies 2-3 Washington National
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll take the Washington Nationals @ 1.85
