Sunday major league baseball and I will have a Free Pick in the game between the Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles, which will be played at Camden Yards in Baltimore. First pitch is scheduled for a 1:35 PM (Eastern) start time and the game will be televised locally.
Betting Odds
Washington -108
Baltimore -102
Over/ Under: 7 U -125
This is game 3 of a 3 game series between these Interleague foes. The Orioles took game 1 of this series, but last night the Nats offense got back on track with the 7-4 win. The win broke a 3 games losing streak for the Nats and also allowed them to maintain their two game lead over Mets in the NL East. The Orioles come in having lost 4 of their last 5 games and are now 3 games out of first in the AL East. The Nationals are 22-23 on the road this year, while the Orioles have gone 29-18 at home for the season.
Washington ranks 10th in scoring (4.29 rpg), 13th in hitting (.255) and 12th in homers (86), while on the mound they are 10th in ERA (3.58) and 12th in WHIP (1.24). Baltimore ranks 5th in scoring (4.43 rpg), 9th in hitting (.257) and 5th in homers (108), while on the mound they are 12th in ERA (3.76) and 17th in WHIP (1.28).
Getting the ball for Washington today will be Max Scherzer, who is 9-7 with a 2.12 ERA overall, while on the road he has gone 5-3 with a 1.50 ERA. Max has gone 3-1 with a 3.92 ERA in 6 career starts vs the O's, while at Camden Yards he is 1-0 with a 4.95 ERA in 3 starts.
Toeing the rubber for the Orioles today will be Wei-Yin Chen, who is 4-4 with a 2.82 ERA in 16 starts this year, while at home he is 3-3 with a 2.96 ERA. Chen has not fared well vs the Nats as he is 1-2 with a 6.60 ERA in 3 starts vs them in his career.
Pick I will look at the Under in this game. Max Scherzer is not happy about the way he has pitched in July so far, so he has decided to pitch today, rather than the All-star game. I fully expect him to have a very nice showing in this game as it looks like he is focused. Max does have a 1.50 ERA on the road this year and a 1.58 ERA in day games, which is another reason to expect him to have a big outing. Wei-Yin Chen has been solid this year with a 2.82 ERA overall and a 2.92 ERA at home plus a solid 2.78 ERA in day starts. He has struggled in 3 career starts vs the Nats, but this is not a washington team that is hitting the ball all that well, as they have hit .220 and have scored just 3.3 rpg in their last 10 games. The O's have hit just .222 and have scored just 3 rpg over the same stretch. Scherzer's day starts have averaged just 6.33 rpg, while Chen's day starts have averaged just 6.17 ERA. THis one shapes up as a pitcher's duel.
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