The Washington Nationals (18-29, 5th in NL East) begin a five-game series against the rival Miami Marlins (25-23, 2nd in NL East) with a doubleheader Friday at Marlins Park. First pitch of Game 1 will be thrown at 5:10 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Nationals-Marlins Game 1 betting odds and lines, with MLB picks and best bets.
Nationals at Marlins: Projected starting pitchers
RHP Erick Fedde vs. RHP Sixto Sanchez
Fedde: 1-3, 9 games (6 starts), 5.06 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 4.1 K/9, 4.6 BB/9, 37 1/3 IP
- Showed some improved form last time out while holding the Atlanta Braves to 2 earned runs over 5 innings in an 8-7 Nationals win.
- Has an ugly 5.82 ERA through 4 games and 17 innings on the road.
Sanchez: 3-1, 5 starts, 1.69 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 1.4 BB/9, 32 IP
- Went 7 innings in a win against the Philadelphia Phillies with just one earned run allowed his last time out (Sept. 13).
- Has fared much better against left-handed batters than righties with a .192/.218/.192 slash line allowed in the preferred split.
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Nationals at Marlins: Key injuries
(Get the latest injury news here.)
Nationals
- 2B Starlin Castro (wrist) out
- OF Adam Eaton (finger) out
- 2B Howie Kendrick (hamstring) out
Marlins
- C Jorge Alfaro (head) questionable
- SS Jon Berti (finger) out
- C Francisco Cervelli (concussion) out
- 2B Isan Diaz (groin) out
- 3B Logan Forsythe (oblique) out
- OF Harold Ramirez (hamstring) out
- OF Magneuris Sierra (hamstring) out
Nationals at Marlins: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 1:40 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Marlins 5, Nationals 2
Money line (ML)
The Marlins (-189) are quite expensive in the first of two 7-inning games Friday. Sixto is definitely the better of the two starting pitchers and can be counted on to pitch the majority of the game for the home side.
Fedde has been awful on the road and can quickly pitch the Nationals (+170) out of games.
PASS on the money line and get better value for a Marlins play on the run line.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Take the MARLINS -1.5 (+120) to win by 2 or more runs, as they should win quite comfortably. Neither team excels offensively against right-handed pitching with both ranked in the bottom half of the league by OPS in the split, but the Marlins will have to do much less against a weaker starter.
Over/Under (O/U)
A slight lean to the OVER 6.5 (-110) in this 7-inning contest. There’s a good chance of Fedde giving up the 7 runs on his own with the Nationals potentially conserving the bullpen for the second half of the doubleheader.
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