Two first place teams favored to capture the National League pennant meet for the first time this season when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Washington Nationals.
The Dodgers have struggled on the road and they open a 10-game trip to start the second half of the season.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Dodgers open the second half of the season with a 10-game road trip through the NL East in what amounts to an important stretch for them. The Dodgers are the only division leader at the break to play below .500 on the road and are just 18-22 down 11.88 units away from Dodger Stadium this season. The under is 11-3 in the Dodgers last 14 road games and 25-14-1 overall. But LA hasn’t played a road game since capping a 6-4 trip with a win in Arizona on July 1.
With all their injuries and lineup maneuvering, the Nationals coasted into the break with a two-game lead in the NL East. Washington built its cushion with impressive play in their own yard going 9-2 over their past 11 games at Nationals Park, in the black 6.49 units over that stretch. Overall the Nats are 25-16 at home up 3.79 units. A struggling offense along with inspired pitching has the under at 8-2 in Washington’s last 10 games.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The Dodgers haven’t set their rotation for the second half with aces Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke both members of the All-Star team. Manager Don Mattingly has expressed a desire to split the pair in the second half and not have them pitch on back-to-back nights. Kershaw could get the start with Greinke, who started the Midsummer Classic, getting the nod over the weekend.
Washington’s Max Scherzer ( 10-7, 2.11 ERA ) is in line for the start after a dominant outing in a win at Baltimore on Sunday. Two solo homers off the bat of Adam Jones were the only mistakes Scherzer made as he went 8.2 innings with seven strikeouts to get the win. He’s had pinpoint control all season, issuing only 14 free passes in 132 innings and hasn’t walked a batter in his last five starts while fanning 37 over 47.2 innings. His 2.11 ERA and 0.78 WHIP would indicate better than a 10-7 record.
Scherzer is 2-3 with a 3.51 ERA in nine career appearances against the Dodgers but will start against them as a member of the Nationals for the first time.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“Given the way our season has gone with the injuries, we can’t argue with where we’re at right now. It’s kind of where we expected to be. We’d like to have a few games up on the Mets. We’re here right now. We’ve put ourselves in a good position for the second half.” – Nationals’ infielder Dan Uggla
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Nationals ended the first half of the season where most expected them – first place. But they won’t be satisfied until they reach the playoffs and beyond. The Nats are built to win and so far they’ve been able to do that despite not being at full strength for most of the season. The Nationals limped into the All-Star break with several projected regulars on the disabled list, including outfielders Denard Span and Jayson Werth and infielders Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman. Their absence forced manager Matt Williams to patch a lineup together using reserves Clint Robinson at first base, Danny Espinosa at second base and Michael A. Taylor in the outfield. Steven Strasburg went on the DL for the second time this season leaving the rotation without one of its top arms as well. The Nats are the best team in watered down NL East and are the only division member with a positive run differential ( +35 ), but aside from an eight-game winning streak in June, they haven’t been dominant. That will likely change when the wounded players start returning in the second half of the season.
PROP TALK
Two of the best young talents in the game go head-to-head when the Dodgers’ Joc Pederson and Nats’ Bryce Harper get together. Harper elected to not participate in the Home Run Derby, leaving the door open for Pederson, who gladly walked right through it to nearly capture the title. If you’re looking for a home run watch for one of these guys to supply it. Pederson leads the Dodgers with 20 but went the last 12 games of the first half without one. His barrage in the Derby may have restored the power swing. Harper is one behind Giancarlo Stanton for the MLB lead and has already established a season career-high with 26 homers.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
For a team that leads its division and has serious World Series aspirations, the Dodgers are bad on the road. It’s a baffling trend for a team with talent, an outrageous payroll and the most home wins in the majors. Facing Max Scherzer, who’s been dominant all season, isn’t going to help LA’s road record. If the Dodgers counter with Clayton Kershaw at least they’ll have a chance, but Scherzer proves to be too much and the Nats open the second half with a win.
Washington 3, Los Angeles 2
The MLB odds for this game will be available first at BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! First pitch for the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals is scheduled for Friday, July 17, 2015, at 7:05 p.m. ET at Nationals Park. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
