Minnesota Twins (24-22) vs. Washington Nationals (20-25)
May 20, 2024 6:45 pm EDT
The Line: Washington Nationals +151 / Minnesota Twins -165; Over/Under: +8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Minnesota Twins and Washington Nationals meet Monday in MLB game 1 action at Nationals Park. Here’s a Washington Nationals vs Minnesota Twins Prediction.
Minnesota Twins Betting Preview
The Minnesota Twins have lost 6 straight games, which includes losses to the Yankees and Guardians. The Minnesota Twins have scored 8 runs in their last 3 games and 3 or fewer runs in 5 of their last 6 games. The Minnesota Twins have lost 5 straight games when scoring 3 or fewer runs. Willi Castro leads the Minnesota Twins with 41 hits and 14 RBI, while Ryan Jeffers and Carlos Santana have combined for 68 hits and 52 RBI.
Washington Nationals Betting Preview
The Washington Nationals have lost 5 straight games, which includes losses to the White Sox and Phillies. The Washington Nationals have scored 10 runs in their last 3 games and 3 or fewer runs in 6 of their last 8 games. The Washington Nationals have lost 6 straight games when scoring 3 or fewer runs. CJ Abrams leads the Washington Nationals with 46 hits and 21 RBI, while Luis Garcia Jr. and Joey Meneses have combined for 70 hits and 42 RBI.
Minnesota Twins vs Washington Nationals Pitching Matchup
Pablo Lopez gets the ball for the Minnesota Twins, and he is 4-3 with a 3.93 ERA and 58 strikeouts this season. Lopez has allowed 19 hits and 5 runs in his last 18.2 innings. Lopez has a 4.50 ERA and .198 allowed batting average in 22 road innings. Lopez is 4-3 with a 4.98 ERA and 49 strikeouts in his career against the Washington Nationals.
Mitchell Parker gets the ball for the Washington Nationals, and he is 2-2 with a 3.09 ERA and 25 strikeouts this season. Parker has allowed 16 hits and 8 runs in his last 16 innings. The Nationals have lost each of Parker’s last 3 starts. This will be Parker’s first career game against the Minnesota Twins.
Why the Minnesota Twins will win
- The Twins have won each of their last 13 night games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Nationals have lost each of their last six games after playing the previous day.
- The Twins have covered the run line in each of their last six games against National League opponents following a road loss.
- The Nationals have failed to cover the run line in four of their last five night games against AL Central opponents.
- The Nationals have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last four games against American League opponents.
- The Nationals have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last seven night games against AL Central opponents.
Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts
- Joey Meneses has hit a home run in each of the Nationals’ last two home games against AL Central opponents.
- Luis Garcia has recorded at least one RBI in five of the Nationals’ last six home games against AL opponents.
- Joey Meneses has scored at least one run in each of the Nationals’ last eight home games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Lane Thomas has recorded at least one total base in each of his 10 previous appearances with the Nationals as underdogs against AL Central opponents.
- CJ Abrams has recorded at least one Double in four of his last five home appearances against AL Central opponents.
- Lane Thomas has recorded at least one hit in each of his 10 previous appearances with the Nationals as underdogs against AL Central opponents.
- Jesse Winker has recorded at least one Single in each of his last five appearances with his team as a home underdog against AL Central opponents.
Minnesota Twins Player Prop Facts
- Carlos Santana has hit a home run in four of the Twins’ last five night games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Pablo Lopez has recorded seven or more strikeouts in each of his last six road appearances.
- Trevor Larnach has recorded two or more total bases in each of his last seven appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
- Trevor Larnach has scored at least one run in each of his last seven appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
- Max Kepler has recorded a Double in each of his last four road appearances.
- Trevor Larnach has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last seven appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
- Pablo Lopez has recorded a win in six of his last seven appearances with the Twins as road favorites.
- Max Kepler has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine road appearances.
- Max Kepler has recorded a Single in seven of the Twins’ last eight night games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Ryan Jeffers ranks 6th amongst qualified players for Slugging Percentage (.572) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Washington Nationals rank 1st in the league for home runs allowed this season (32).
- The Washington Nationals rank 29th in the league for slugging percentage this season (.350).
- The Minnesota Twins rank 1st in the league for doubles this season (91).
- The Minnesota Twins rank T1st in the league for walks allowed this season (116).
Washington Nationals vs Minnesota Twins Prediction
You can make a case for either the Twins or Nationals after the rough week both teams had. The difference in this spot is the Twins have an all star caliber pitcher on the mound in Pablo Lopez, who is on fire in the month of May with a 2.41 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. Mitchell Parker is still a rookie trying to figure things out and the Nationals haven’t helped him out much in recent efforts. Also, the Twins are the more talented team overall. With Lopez on the hill, I like the Twins to get the job done at the reasonable price.
