Friday baseball action will see the Nationals host the Rangers in a game Tanner Roark (6-2, 3.95) will get to pitch on his bobblehead day against the team that originally drafted him into the majors. Andrew Cashner, who’s coming off a rough start against the Astros, will get the ball for the Rangers in yet another start against a heavy slugging team.
- The Nationals are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games against right-handed starting pitchers.
- Cashner gave up 4 runs in just 4 IP in his only appearance against the Nationals in 2016.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the Nationals' last 5 games when Sportsbook a series.
Texas is probably a little upset that they weren’t able to hang on to Roark. The Nats gave him his first shot in the big leagues back in 2013 and he’s gone on to post a career 3.12 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with Washington. The 30-year-old right-hander has regressed a little since last year but if his team keeps scoring like it has been, Roark should be in line for another win.
The Nationals have scored more runs per game than any other team in baseball and they could beat up on a pitcher in Cashner that a lot of guys in their lineup have destroyed. Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and Daniel Murphy all own averages over .400 against the Rangers righty and the latter two got the day off yesterday along with a revamped Ryan Zimmerman.
Washington is the favorite in this series opener for good reason and with the runline cashing in 7 of the Nats’ last 10 games, you may want to consider a bet on them on the -1.5-run spread.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Betting fans looking to pick the Washington Nationals in this matchup found them as -188 favorites on the MLB money line at Sportsbook. Betting the over under instead? It was 9 at its open earlier today and hovering near that number at Sportsbook.
Prediction-scoring formulas run on this game pick a potential 5.7-2.4 result in favor of the Nationals. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming MLB matchups here.
Texas Rangers vs Washington Nationals Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
38-21 Washington battles the Rangers, currently with a 27-32 mark. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Washington vs Texas injuries news.
The Odds Shark MLB Power Rankings have the Washington Nationals at No. 4 and the Texas Rangers at No. 24 heading into this contest.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up Washington Nationals No. 1 ranked offense (5.54 runs per game) against a Texas Rangers defense and pitching staff that sits at No. 21 at 4.76 runs allowed per game. The Washington Nationals have been averaging 9.59 hits per game, more than the Texas Rangers have managed so far this season (8.1 hits on average).
Texas brings the No. 21-rated defense to this matchup, facing the Nationals's No. 7-ranked defense.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Texas looks to rebound from a loss to the Mets, who beat them 4-3 on Wednesday behind a start from Z Wheeler at Globe Life Park.
The Nationals hope for a dominant pitching performance similar to their last game when Joe Ross struck out 12 batters in 6-1 victory on Thursday at Nationals Park.
- Texas is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
- Texas is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
- Texas is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Texas is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
- Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
- Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games
- Washington is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Texas at Washington, Saturday, June 10th
