The San Diego Padres (54-40) and Washington Nationals (42-48) play the finale of a three-game set Sunday at Nationals Park. First pitch is tentatively scheduled for 3:35 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Padres vs. Nationals odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Saturday’s game between these two clubs was suspended in the bottom of the 6th inning with the Padres leading, 8-4, following a shooting outside Nationals Park. Action is set to resume at 1:05 p.m. ET and the series finale should commence 25-45 minutes after the completion of the suspended game.
RHP Joe Musgrove is the projected starting pitcher for the Padres. He is 5-7 with a 2.93 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 10.6 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 over 98 1/3 IP across 17 starts and one relief appearance.
Musgrove is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA through two winless July starts. One of those outings came July 5 against the Nationals where he allowed 5 runs, 7 hits and a walk with 4 strikeouts over 5 innings in a no-decision.
RHP Max Scherzer is the projected starting pitcher for the Nationals. He is 7-4 with a 2.66 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 12.3 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 across 98 IP in 17 starts.
The All-Star was tuned up in San Diego in his most recent start July 8, yielding 7 runs on 5 hits and a walk with 7 strikeouts across 3 2/3 innings in a no-decision. His ERA ballooned from to 2.66 from 2.10 as a result.
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Padres at Nationals odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:35 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Padres -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Nationals -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Padres -1.5 (+150) | Nationals +1.5 (-180)
- Over/Under: 8 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Prediction
Nationals 5, Padres 2
Money line (ML)
The Nationals are home against the Padres in the series finale, and Scherzer is looking for a little revenge after being treated rudely by these Padres in San Diego. However, San Diego is a good club and should keep things interesting.
AVOID, and look to the run line instead for a safer play.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The NATIONALS +1.5 (-180) are looking for some momentum heading into the second half. They didn’t get off to a very hot start, as they looked like the Washington Football Team Friday, coughing up a 24-spot.
However, with Scherzer on the hill, they’ll get the win in the series finale and build toward the upcoming week. While the odds are steep on the run line it gives you some insurance in the event they lose a close one. You could even get aggressive and look to the Alternate Run Line Nationals -1.5 (+180).
Over/Under (O/U)
The UNDER 8 (-110) is a solid play, as the Padres won’t smack around the All-Star Scherzer in consecutive outings, and Musgrove hasn’t been terribly giving this season either despite a hiccup in recent starts. Look for a well-pitched, lower-scoring game Sunday afternoon.
I also like to play Unders when a west coast team plays at what is essentially a 10 a.m. start for their internal clocks, which the Friars will have to do while finishing up yesterday’s action before even starting today’s.
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