The Washington Nationals take on the Boston Red Sox tonight in Major League Baseball action. The game is scheduled for a 6:10 p.m. start time and it will be televised live on MLB.tv from Boston. Currently the betting odds for the game have the Red Sox favored in this contest over Washington.
The Red Sox have been on fire this season, winning five of their seven games to date. Washington has not been putting it together to this point in the season. The Nationals have really struggled at the dish so far through seven games, scoring just 17 runs which ranks 28th in the league. The Nationals are hitting just .185 on the campaign as well, which ranks 30th out of all Major League teams. Boston, on the other hand, has been destroying the baseball, ranking inside the Top 10 in the league in runs scored, average and on-base percentage so far.
Hanley Ramirez has been one of the offensive leaders, clubbing three home runs while driving in seven so far. Xander Bogaerts is hitting .433 to this point as well.
Tonight Washington sends Stephen Strasburg to the mound. He lost his only start to the season, surrendering three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings while scattering nine hits against the Mets. New York had a solid offensive gameplan in that one, forcing Strasburg into throwing 95 pitches in just over five innings of work, also drawing three walks. Tonight Strasburg could have the same type of problems against a very strong Boston lineup.
Current Red Sox are hitting just .155 against Strasburg in 55 plate appearances, Ramirez has the only real success with five hits (including one home run and two doubles) in 16 at bats.
Justin Masterson gets the ball for the Red Sox. Masterson won his opening start to the season over the Philadelphia Phillies — tossing six innings while allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out seven. Current Nationals own a .194 average against Masterson in his career in 67 at bats with no one having any real success over more than a few at bats.
Boston just drilled Washington last night, tonight they look to continue swinging the hot bats. It'll be tough to fade Strasburg, but the Red Sox are just too good right now.
Free Pick: Red Sox
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