The New York Yankees (1-0) look to start the season with a second straight win over the Washington Nationals (0-1) at Nationals Park. Saturday’s contest is slated for a 7:15 p.m. ET first pitch. We analyze the Yankees-Nationals MLB betting odds and lines, with MLB betting picks and best bets around the matchup.
Yankees at Nationals: Projected starting pitchers
LHP James Paxton vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg
Paxton: 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA over 150 2/3 innings pitched and 29 starts in 2019.
- The Yankees port-sider clocked an 11.1 strikeouts per nine rate last season.
- Paxton struggled on the road in 2019 (.814 OPS allowed). But that figure rolled in alongside a .351 batting average on balls in play, and the big lefty has otherwise been a solid road hurler over his career.
Strasburg: 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA over 209 innings and 33 starts in 2019
- The 6-foot-5 right-hander changed some mechanics and sequencing a year ago. Results were impressive, with an increased ground ball percentage and a lower walk rate. Strasburg logged a 2.96 ERA in the season’s second half.
- Strasburg does a tremendous job of limiting barreled-up contact. That will be a big key against the big bats in the Yankees lineup.
- One key matchup: Strasburg vs. OF Giancarlo Stanton, who homered in Thursday’s opener. Stanton owns a robust 1.044 OPS against the Washington hurler.
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Yankees at Nationals: Key injuries
Listed MLB injuries include:
Yankees
- RP Aroldis Chapman (COVID-19) out
- 2B DJ LeMahieu (COVID) questionable
Nationals
- RP Wander Suero (COVID-19) out
- OF Juan Soto (COVID) out
Yankees at Nationals: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:55 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML)
New York (-128) took Thursday’s opener, 4-1, in a rain-shortened affair. This line feels like an overreaction to the Soto’s absence and an overreach on Paxton. TAKE WASHINGTON (+115).
New to sports betting? A winning $10 bet on the Nationals returns $11.50.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
WASHINGTON +1.5 (-143) is a play with less value than the straight moneyline, and this contest has a lower-scoring lean to it. Skip this play.
Over/Under (O/U)
Pitchers have appeared to be ahead of hitters in the early going. TAKE THE UNDER 9.0 (-110) here.
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