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The New York Yankees (0-0) visit the Washington Nationals (0-0) Thursday at Nationals Park. The 7:08 p.m. ET contest marks the opening of the truncated MLB season and the end of a long wait for baseball bettors. We analyze the New York-Washington MLB betting odds and lines, with betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Yankees at Nationals: Projected starting pitchers
RHP Gerrit Cole vs. RHP Max Scherzer
Cole: 2.50 ERA, 13.8 strikeouts per nine innings in 2019
- Current Nationals own a whiff-heavy .562 OPS (on-base plus slugging) against him.
- The new Yankee ace has been a fast starter over his career: He owns a 2.85 ERA in games played in the first month of the season. Cole logged a 2.36 road ERA in 2019 and owns a sub-3.00 ERA away from home the last two years.
Scherzer: 2.92 ERA, 9.0 SO/9 in 2019
- Scherzer battled a back-strain injury in the second half last season. He registered 5.16 ERA over five September starts before rallying with a 2.40 ERA in the postseason.
- The New York lineup skews right, and that plays into a strength for the Nats’ 35-year-old righty. Scherzer held right-handed bats to an anemic .530 OPS last season.
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Yankees at Nationals: Key injuries
The list of injuries for this one includes …
Yankees
- Closer Aroldis Chapman (out–Covid) and 2B DJ LeMahieu (questionable–Covid). The Yankee bullpen is deep; look for RP Zack Britton to be the late lefty and/or closer in Chapman’s absence.
Nationals
- 2B Howie Kendrick (questionable–conditioning) and RP Wander Suero (out–Covid)
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 6:30 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML)
The host Nationals draw a +120 tag in this matchup of aces and two teams that are projected to battle for division flags. The price was higher earlier in the week, and a move northward is something to watch for. PASS ON THE CURRENT PRICE but consider making the Nationals a play if the price gets up around +125.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Washington returns a $12 profit for a win.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Adding a run-and-a-half makes the Nats a -143 proposition. PASS. Keep an eye on the straight moneyline as the likeliest side to back in this one.
Over/Under (O/U)
The total is a low one (7.5) and rightfully so. Its a tally drawing equal play (-110) so far. It figures to be a warm, humid evening in DC (with a 33% chance of rain), but STEER CLEAR of this play with two aces twirling and both bullpens rested.
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