Washington Nationals (24-32) vs Philadelphia Phillies (25-30)
2023-06-02 19:05:00 EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Washington Nationals +165 / Philadelphia Phillies -213 --- Over/Under: 8.5
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The Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals meet Friday in MLB action from Nationals Park. The Phillies just finished up against the Mets this week. After losing the first two games in that series, on Thursday Philadelphia lost by two. As for the Nationals, they played the Dodgers in their last set. Washington lost two of those three matchups. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies fell to the Mets 2-0 Tuesday and 4-1 in game two. In the Thursday finale, the Phillies blew an early 2-0 lead and fell 4-2. Starter Taijuan Walker finished with 4.0 innings, three earned, two hits and three walks.
For the starter job in the Friday opener, Philadelphia will go with Zack Wheeler. In his 11 starts so far Wheeler is 4-4 with a 3.60 ERA and 76 Ks in 65.0 innings. In 206 career starts Wheeler is 78-61 with a 3.43 ERA.
Washington Nationals
Over on the Nationals’ side, they lost to the Dodgers 6-1 Monday and 9-3 in the Tuesday matchup. Washington staved off the sweep with a 10-6 win in game three, though. Starting pitcher Patrick Corbin managed 5.0 innings with three earned on seven hits and four walks.
Josiah Gray will take the mound for the start on Friday. Across his 11 starts this year Gray is 4-5 with a 2.77 ERA and 51 Ks in 61.2 innings. Gray is 13-17 with a 4.64 ERA in 53 career games (52 starts).
The Phillies are 35-16 in their last 51 Friday games and 2-8 in the last 10 road games. Philly is 0-5 in the last five in game one of a series.
Meanwhile, the Nationals are 43-92 in their last 135 at home and 15-36 in their last 51 Friday games. Washington is 15-40 in their last 55 after an off day.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll try the Nationals in this one. Gray is on a nice run lately, with four combined earned runs on 14 hits and 12 walks over 16.0 innings total in his last three starts. If Gray can avoid early trouble and post a quality outing here, Washington should be set up nicely. The Nats offense will need to step it up as well; they’ve been at three runs or fewer in three of the last four games—losing all three.
