The Philadelphia Phillies will look to sweep the Washington Nationals tonight when the two division rivals close out a three game set at Citizens Bank Park. This evening’s series finale is scheduled to get underway at 7:05pm ET. MLB Free Picks and Odds at offshore bookmaker 5Dimes have the visiting Nationals listed as a slight -115 moneyline favorite ($115 wins $100) and the Over/Under set at 7.5 runs. The Phillies are drawing +105 odds to earn their 36^th win of the season.

 

The Nationals lost for the fourth time in five games last night to fall to 34-36 overall and into a second place tie with the Phillies in the National League East standings.

 

The main culprit in Washington’s recent struggles, an inability to score runs, reared its ugly head again as they managed six hits and two runs off of Cliff Lee and Jonathan Papelbon in yesterday’s 2-4 setback.

 

The Nats look for a better offensive showing tonight as they face Philadelphia’s Kyle Kendrick. Kendrick, who owns a 3.76 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, is coming off his worst performance of the season, an 8-7 win at Colorado in which he allowed 10 hits and seven earned runs over 4.1 innings.

 

The 28 year old right hander had put together three consecutive quality starts prior to the Rockies game and he is 3-1 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in his last four home starts.

 

The Phillies, an 18-15 home team, will combat Nationals lefty Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez has not been as effective this season as last, but he has been solid nonetheless, producing a 3.40 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 14 starts.

 

Despite Gonzalez allowing just 11 hits and four earned runs over 20 innings in his last three outings, the Nationals posted a 0-3 record. Perhaps his luck will change this evening against the Phillies. Gonzalez is 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA in four career starts opposite Philadelphia.

 

Notable Trends: The Over is 8-2 in the Phillies last 10 games as a home underdog against a left handed pitcher.

 

 

Washington Nationals -1.5 (+140), Over 7.5 (-110), -115 (Moneyline)

Philadelphia Phillies +1.5 (-160), Under 7.5 (-110), +105 (Moneyline)

 

Vegas Runner, Bryan Leonard and host Steve Fezzik discuss the current MLB replay system, with ideas on how to tweak it.