There's a really good chance that somewhere along the way, the Washington Nationals (48-39 SU, +0.10 Units) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (51-39 SU, -8.47 Units) will meet in the playoffs. This first meeting between the two teams in the second half of the year could end up being a huge game on Friday night.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Dodgers might be 12-games above .500 going into the second half of the season, but they have been atrocious on the road at just 18-22. Bettors are out 11.88 units to show for their work wagering on LA as a visitor this season, numbers which almost have to improve in the second half of the campaign.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The Nationals haven't made the formal announcement yet, but Max Scherzer should be pitching on Friday night to start the second half.
The righty probably would win the Cy Young Award in the NL if it was given out today, and for good reason. He's 10-7 with a 2.11 ERA, and has been on fire of late. In his last six starts, Scherzer has averaged just under eight innings per start, has a one-hitter, a no-hitter, a 2.08 ERA, and a K/BB ratio of 53/1.
It'll clearly be either Zack Greinke or Clayton Kershaw pitching for the Dodgers on Friday night. If Don Mattingly sticks to his guns, Kershaw will get the ball, as he won't have pitched in a meaningful game since July 8, while Greinke was a day behind on the schedule.
Kershaw is starting to look more like the man we have come to know over the course of the last few years. In his last three starts, he has allowed a total of two earned runs over 23 innings of work with 29 strikeouts and just two walks.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I'm fine with the workload. I've always said I'm built for 110 pitches, and I go up to 120, low 120s if need be. It just takes a lot of work between the starters and that's what I'm prepared to do and that's what I've always been doing. I'm comfortable with it. I want the ball in those situations." – Nationals starter Max Scherzer on his 132 innings pitches thus far in 2015
SITUATIONAL BETTING
Bullpens probably aren't going to matter in this game much if it really is Kershaw against Scherzer, but in the event that either closer is needed, the game is as good as over. Kenley Jansen is 16-of-17 in save chances this year, while Drew Storen is 27-of-29 with a 1.89 ERA.
PROP TALK
Arguably, no one had a better first half of the year than did Bryce Harper. The outfielder hit 26 homers, batted .339 and has put himself on a pace for both 100 runs and 100 RBIs. Harper has reached base safely in all but one game played since June 7, and he’s always a great bet to come through in the clutch for prop betting purposes.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The over/under in this game may as well be something like 4.5 the way these two men are throwing the ball right now.
Scherzer and Kershaw are both truly elite and at the tops of their games, and though Kershaw hasn't quite been the same man he was last year, he is starting to get into that type of form. If that holds true out of the break, one or two runs might be enough in this game. The under is clearly the right play.
Washington 2, Los Angeles 1
The MLB lines for this Friday contest will be first released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, player props and inning totals. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker's live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Los Angeles Dodgers versus the Washington Nationals will commence at 7:05 p.m. ET on Friday, July 17, 2015 at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. The matchup will be televised live on the MLB Network.
