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The Washington Nationals (15-15) go for their 6th win in 7 games as they wrap up a 3-game series with the Texas Rangers (16-15) Thursday afternoon. First pitch from Globe Life Field is scheduled for 2:35 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Nationals vs. Rangers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tied 1-1
The Nationals were victorious 1-0 over the Rangers Wednesday, cashing as (+177) road underdogs. RHP Trevor Williams tossed 5 scoreless innings before 4 Nats relievers combined for 4 shutout innings of 1-hit ball.
Washington’s lone run Wednesday was driven in by OF Alex Call, and it was the 29-year-old’s 1st RBI of the season. The Nationals scored only 1 run Tuesday as well, as 2B Luis Garcia Jr. singled in SS C.J. Abrams in the 2nd inning before Texas responded with 7 unanswered.
Nationals at Rangers projected starters
LHP Mitchell Parker vs. LHP Nathan Eovaldi
Parker (2-0, 1.69 ERA) makes his 4th start. He has a 0.94 WHIP, 1.1 BB/9 and 7.9 K/9 in 16 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 4 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 K in 11-4 victory at Miami Marlins Saturday
- Sports 2nd-lowest BB/9 amongst qualified rookies in NL
Eovaldi (1-2, 3.00 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.22 WHIP, 4.3 BB/9 and 9.0 K/9 in 36 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 5 BB, 8 K in 2-1 home win over Cincinnati Reds Friday
- Career vs. Washington: 3-5, 4.79 ERA (62 IP, 33 ER — 7 HR), 17 BB, 52 K in 11 starts
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Nationals at Rangers odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:38 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Nationals +176 (bet $176 to win $100) | Rangers -210 (bet $210 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Nationals +1.5 (-130) | Rangers -1.5 (+108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: +100 | U: -122)
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Nationals at Rangers picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 4, Nationals 3
Moneyline
Consider adding Rangers (-210) in a parlay.
This is way too much juice to lay on a Texas team that has only a .500 record (9-9) at home to start the season. However, if you are looking to build a parlay, combining Rangers (-210) with Cleveland Guardians +1.5 (-196 at Houston Astros, 8:10 p.m. ET) pays out +122.
Run line/Against the spread
BACK WASHINGTON +1.5 (-130).
Parker can sit down opposing hitters in an efficient matter, as he became only the 5th pitcher in MLB history to strike out 12 and not issue a walk in the 1st 2 games of his career.
The Rangers strike out at the 4th-highest rate in all of MLB as a team vs. LHP (26.5%), and the Nats bullpen has allowed the 2nd-fewest HRs in the NL (9).
These 2 factors will help keep the Nationals in this game.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 8.5 (-122).
Eovaldi features the 4th-highest swinging strike percentage (14.6%) among 84 qualified pitchers. No team in the NL has produced more soft contact than Washington (20.8%), so expect the 34-year-old to have an excellent outing once again.
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