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The Washington Nationals (19-19) and Boston Red Sox (20-19) conclude a 3-game series Sunday. First pitch from Fenway Park is slated for 1:35 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Nationals vs. Red Sox odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tied 1-1
The Nationals lost 4-2 on Saturday afternoon, with the only offense on solo HRs by RF Eddie Rosario and 1B Joey Meneses. Washington got a solid outing from starting RHP Jake Irvin, (7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). This is the 1st stop in a 3-city, 9-game road trip for Washington.
Boston 3B Rafael Devers had the tiebreaking 2-run double in the 8th inning Saturday as the Red Sox evened the series after losing 5-1 Friday. Starting RHP Cooper Criswell struck out 9 in 5 IP, allowing just 2 ER. The win was just Boston’s 2nd in its last 8 games and they’ve scored only 2.5 runs per game over that span.
Nationals at Red Sox projected starters
LHP MacKenzie Gore vs. RHP Brayan Bello
Gore (2-3, 3.19 ERA) may make his 8th start. He has a 1.47 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 11.1 K/9 in 34 IP.
- Last start: No-decision, 3 IP, 6 R (2 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K in 11-8 home victory over the Toronto Blue Jays last Sunday
- Only start vs Red Sox: No-decision, 6 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 7 K in 6-2 home win Aug. 16, 2023
Bello (3-1, 3.04 ERA) makes his 6th start. He has a 1.05 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 8.8 K/9 in 26 2/3 IP.
- Last start: Win, 6 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 7 K in 8-1 win at Pittsburgh Pirates on April 19
- Has never started against the Nationals
- 2024 home splits: 1-1, 2.53 ERA, 10 2/3 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 11 K in 2 games
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Nationals at Red Sox odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated 12:43 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Nationals +124 (bet $100 to win $124) | Red Sox -146 (bet $146 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Nationals +1.5 (-176) | Red Sox -1.5 (+146)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Nationals at Red Sox picks and predictions
Prediction
Nationals 3, Red Sox 2
Moneyline.
BET NATIONALS (+124).
Washington has been better on the road (12-9) than the Red Sox have been at home (8-10) on the season.
It’s hard not to like what Gore has done, he hasn’t allowed more than 3 ER in any start this season. The former top prospect has had pinpoint control throughout the season with no more than 2 walks in any of his 7 starts. Boston could only manage 1 hit off of him when they met last season.
The Red Sox are just not playing good ball right now, they went 1-5 on their last road trip before starting this home series with the Nationals.
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
I’m going to focus my bet on the moneyline and not worry about the run line.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 8 (-105).
I already spoke about how good Gore has been for the Nationals, but Bello has been just as impressive. He’s allowed just 3 ER over his last 3 starts (16 2/3 IP).
In their last 5 meetings, the Under has hit in 4. Boston has really struggled to score runs which is why they have been Under the total in 9 of their last 10 games. Washington has been Under in 3 of their last 4.
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