In this article, we will formulate a Nationals vs Phillies prediction for this MLB game on Saturday, March 29th, at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Washington Nationals Betting Preview
The Washington Nationals are 0-1 this year after they lost to Philadelphia by a score of 7-3 in extra innings on Thursday. Washington led 1-0 in the fifth inning, but they needed two runs in the eighth to tie the game before allowing four runs in the tenth for the loss. The Nationals recorded just five hits in the game and went scoreless in eight out of ten innings. Ruiz went 2-4 in the game with one home run and one RBI, while Garcia Jr. went 2-4 with one RBI. Gore started on the mound for Washington in the game, and he allowed just one hit over 6.0 innings of work.
Last season, the Washington pitching staff had a 4.30 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP and a .258 opponent batting average, while the offense scored 660 runs with a .243 batting average and a .309 on-base percentage. CJ Abrams led Washington with a .246 batting average, 20 home runs, and 65 RBIs last season. The projected starting pitcher for Washington is Jake Irvin, who was 10-14 with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP over 187.2 innings pitched in 2024. The Nats will take on the Blue Jays after this game.
Philadelphia Phillies Betting Preview
The Philadelphia Phillies are 1-0 this season after they beat Washington by a score of 7-4 in their first game. Philadelphia was held scoreless through six innings, but they scored three runs in the seventh/eighth innings. The Phillies ended up allowing the tying runs in the eighth, but they rallied with a huge 10th inning in the win. Harper and Schwarber both had home runs in the game, while Bohm and Realmuto added two RBIs each. The Phillies started Wheeler on the mound, who allowed two hits and one earned run through six innings.
Last year, the Philadelphia pitching staff had a 3.85 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP and a .243 opponent batting average, while the offense scored 784 runs with a .257 batting average and a .325 on-base percentage. The Phillies were led by Kyle Schwarber, who hit .248 with 38 home runs and 104 RBIs on the season, but he did strike out 197 times. The projected starting pitcher for Philadelphia is Jesus Luzardo, who went 3-6 with a 5.00 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP over 66.2 innings pitched for the Marlins last year.
Why the Nationals will beat the Phillies
- The Phillies have lost seven of their last eight games as favorites against National League opponents following a win.
- The Nationals have won seven of their last eight Saturday day games as underdogs against National League opponents.
- The Phillies have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight games as favorites against National League opponents following a win.
- The Nationals have covered the run line in 12 of their last 13 Saturday day games.
- The Phillies have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last three games as favorites against National League opponents.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Phillies’ last nine games as favorites have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Nationals’ last six games against NL East opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in eight of the Phillies’ last nine day games at Nationals Park.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in 18 of the Nationals’ last 21 games as home underdogs against NL East opponents.
Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts
- Keibert Ruiz has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances against the Phillies after not playing the previous day.
- Keibert Ruiz has recorded at least one RBI in seven of his last eight appearances against the Phillies.
- Keibert Ruiz has scored a run in each of his last six appearances in day games against NL East teams that held a winning record.
- Keibert Ruiz has recorded at least one Single in each of his last seven home appearances.
- Keibert Ruiz has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances in day games against NL East teams that held a winning record.
- Keibert Ruiz ranks T9th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.500) this season.
Philadelphia Phillies Player Prop Facts
- Max Kepler has hit a home run in four of his last five road appearances against NL East opponents that held a losing record.
- Max Kepler has recorded a Double in three of his last four appearances with his team as a favorite against the Nationals.
- Alec Bohm has recorded at least one RBI in seven of his last eight appearances in day games against NL East teams that held a losing record.
- Max Kepler has scored at least one run in each of his last eight appearances with his team as a road favorite against NL East opponents.
- J.T. Realmuto has recorded at least one Single in each of his last 10 Saturday appearances against NL East teams that held a losing record.
- Jesus Luzardo has recorded five or more strikeouts in 15 of his last 16 appearances with his team as a favorite against NL opponents.
- Nick Castellanos has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 15 Saturday day appearances with the Phillies as favorites.
- Kyle Schwarber ranks T9th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.500) this season.
Nationals vs Phillies Prediction
Philadelphia was able to pick up a dramatic win on Thursday in game one of the series, but Washington did pitch a very solid game for the first nine innings. The Nationals should be an interesting team to watch this season, as they have plenty of young talent, but they are going to have some trouble in a very tough NL East. Jake Irvin is starting for Washington, and he did a solid job of eating innings last year, but his numbers were just average. Philadelphia is going with Luzardo, who battled injuries last season but did not pitch well when healthy. I trust Irvin more than I do Luzardo in this game, so I will take the Nationals and the plus money.