The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals meet Friday in MLB action from Nationals Park. The Dodgers are fresh off a series versus the Marlins. After a game one loss, Los Angeles took a blowout defeat in game two. In the finale the Dodgers stopped the sweep with a blowout victory. As for the Nationals, they just finished a pair versus the Mets, losing the first game. On Thursday Washington was able to eke out a win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Los Angeles Dodgers 

The Dodgers took on a surging Marlins team this week, losing Tuesday in game one 6-3. In Wednesday’s matchup, LA gave up nine runs in the fifth inning during an 11-4 defeat. In the finale the Dodgers scored four runs in the sixth inning on the way to 16 team hits in a 10-0 blowout victory. Ryan Pepiot went 7.0 innings in the start with just one hit and no walks. 

In the starter role for Friday’s game the Dodgers are sending out Emmet Sheehan. In 2023 Sheehan is 3-1 with a 5.31 ERA and 36 Ks in 42.1 innings over nine games (eight starts). Sheehan is 2-1 with a 6.82 ERA in his last seven games (six starts). 

Los Angeles Dodgers Team Facts

• The Dodgers have won each of their last six games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
• The favorites have covered the run line in eight of the Dodgers’ last nine games at Nationals Park.
• The Dodgers have led after 7 innings in each of their last five night games at Nationals Park against NL East opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Dodgers’ last six games.
• The Dodgers have led after 5 innings in each of their last six games against opponents that held a losing record.

Washington Nationals 

Over on the Nationals’ side, they fell in an 11-5 result against the Mets on Tuesday. Five different Washington players had RBI during the losing effort. On Wednesday the Nationals were able to eke out a one-run walk-off win in comeback fashion. Rookie Jacob Young provided the winning hit, and Dominic Smith finished with a run and three hits. 

As starting pitcher for Friday’s matchup, the Nationals will go with MacKenzie Gore. This year in 26 starts Gore is 7-10 with a 4.28 ERA and 147 Ks in 132.1 innings. Gore is 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA over his last seven starts. 

Washington Nationals Team Facts

• The Nationals have lost each of their last eight home games against the Dodgers following a win.
• The favorites have covered the run line in eight of the last nine games between the Dodgers and Nationals at Nationals Park.
• The Nationals have led after 7 innings in each of their last five games as underdogs against NL West opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Nationals’ last seven games.
• The Nationals have won the first inning in four of their last five games as underdogs against NL West opponents.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Washington Nationals ranks 1st in the league for strikeouts against this season (987).
• The Washington Nationals ranks 30th in the league for home runs allowed this season (215).
• The Los Angeles Dodgers ranks 1st in the league for walks this season (569).
• The Los Angeles Dodgers ranks 2nd in the league for runs scored this season (779).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll take a stab on the Nationals here, but I’m probably not touching it. Gore finished off the month of August on a pretty good run. He had just three earned combined over three starts in 15.1 total innings. Gore gave up 11 hits and five walks in that time and went 1-1. Washington has been scoring well lately; they’ve hit three or more runs in five straight outings. Trouble is, the Nationals have given up six or more runs in four of those games (all losses). Gore is going to need a quality outing and some support from the bats/pen here, but it’s conceivable that Washington could get an opener victory at home.