The Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals clash Thursday in game 3 of an MLB series at Nationals Park. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

Boston Red Sox Betting Preview

The Red Sox look for a win after winning 6 of their last 9 games. The Red Sox are 3 games back in the AL wild card race. The Red Sox pitching staff is 18th in ERA (4.34), 19th in WHIP (1.31) and 26th in quality starts (33). The Red Sox offense is 9th in runs per game (4.82), 4th in batting average (.261) and 19th in homers (134). Masataka Yoshida leads the Red Sox with 121 hits and 56 RBI, while Justin Turner and Rafael Devers have combined for 231 hits and 152 RBI. Chris Sale gets the ball, and he is 5-2 with a 4.52 ERA and 78 strikeouts this season. Sale is 0-0 with a 5.06 ERA and 10 strikeouts in his career against the Nationals.

Boston Red Sox Team Facts

• The Red Sox have lost four of their last five games as road favorites after playing the previous day.
• The Red Sox have covered the run line in each of their last six day games against National League opponents following a road loss.
• The Red Sox have trailed after 5 innings in three of their last four games as road favorites against National League opponents.
• The Red Sox have trailed after 7 innings in three of their last four games as road favorites against National League opponents.
• The Red Sox have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last six games as road favorites.

Boston Red Sox Player Prop Facts

• Triston Casas has hit a home run in three of the Red Sox’s last five road games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
• Triston Casas has recorded at least one RBI in five of the Red Sox’s last six games against NL East opponents.
• Chris Sale has recorded six or more strikeouts in 32 of his last 33 road appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
• Trevor Story has recorded two or more total bases in 13 of his last 14 Thursday day appearances with his team as a favorite.
• Trevor Story has scored at least one run in 12 of his last 13 Thursday day appearances with his team as a favorite.
• Triston Casas has recorded at least one hit in each of the Red Sox’s last 10 games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
• Masataka Yoshida ranks 10th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.298) this season.

Washington Nationals Betting Preview

The Nationals look to play spoiler after winning 4 of their last 5 games. The Nationals have the second-worst record in the NL at 54-67. The Nationals pitching staff is 27th in ERA (4.86), 28th in WHIP (1.45) and 23rd in quality starts (35). The Nationals’ offense is 18th in runs per game (4.36), 6th in batting average (.259) and 29th in homers (112). Lane Thomas leads the Nationals with 135 hits and 68 RBI, while Joey Meneses and Dominic Smith have combined for 237 hits and 94 RBI. Patrick Corbin gets the ball, and he is 7-11 with a 4.85 ERA and 91 strikeouts this season. Corbin is 0-2 with a 8.22 ERA and 8 strikeouts in his career against the Red Sox.

Washington Nationals Team Facts

• The Nationals have won seven of their last eight games as home underdogs after playing the previous day.
• The Nationals have covered the run line nine of their last 10 home games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Nationals have led after 3 innings in three of their last four games as underdogs against American League opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Nationals’ last three day games against AL East opponents.
• The Nationals have led after 5 innings in three of their last four games as underdogs against American League opponents.

Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts

• Patrick Corbin has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last five appearances with the Nationals as underdogs against AL opponents.
• CJ Abrams has recorded at least one hit in each of the Nationals’ last five day games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• CJ Abrams has recorded at least one total base in each of the Nationals’ last five day games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• CJ Abrams ranks 5th in the league in Steals (31) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Washington Nationals ranks 30th in the league for home runs allowed this season (178).
• The Washington Nationals ranks 29th in the league for home runs this season (112).
• The Boston Red Sox ranks 2nd in the league for doubles this season (259).
• The Boston Red Sox ranks 4th in the league for batting average this season (.261).

Randy’s Pick

The Red Sox should be favored, as they’re the better team and fighting for a potential playoff spot. However, Chris Sale isn’t the Chris Sale of old, he has a 5.34 ERA on the road, and he’s pitched just 8.1 innings since June. Patrick Corbin hasn’t been terrible lately, and that includes 3 earned runs in his last 11.1 innings. Also, the Nationals are comfortably the most profitable team in MLB over the last 30 days. You’re making money with the Nats lately. Big plus money here with a quick turnaround. Give me the home dog.