MLB Baseball
2013-06-19 - Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: MLB Baseball
Wednesday 19 June 2013 - First Pitch 7:05pm
12:05am (British Time)
Preview
The Philadelphia Phillies (35-37) have dominated their rivals in the National League East and will look to complete the sweep of the Washington Nationals (34-36) in this three game series. Both teams are seven games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and both teams did have serious Play Off ambitions this season.
Philadelphia have had a couple of close wins in the first two games of the series and will be hoping that Kyle Kendrick can get back on track when they send him to the mound. Kendrick is 6-4 and has a 3.76 ERA this season, but he has been struggling in recent outings.
Kendrick is coming off an outing when he lasted less than five innings as Colorado bashed him around for seven runs, but he was fortunate the batting lineup pulled the game around for the win. The pitcher is 2-3 with a 5.70 ERA in his last six starts and he has struggled against Washington against whom he is 4-6 with a 4.98 ERA in his last eighteen starts.
The Phillies have won six straight at home, but could find it tougher if Washington can help out Gio Gonzalez in this one.
Gonzalez is 3-3 with a 3.40 ERA this season, but he has reduced that to a 2.12 ERA in his last seven starts since early May, but he is 0-1 in that time as the run support hasn't been there.
The Nationals have lost the last four games that Gonzalez has started, although he is coming off a performance where he held Cleveland to one run in seven innings pitched. The pitcher has been tough for the Phillies to solve as he is 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA in his last four starts against them, although he is yet to face them this season.
Head to Head
Philadelphia have won 3 of the 5 games between these two teams this season.
The Phillies have won both home games after previously losing back to back games here to Washington.
Prediction
If Washington can get their bats going a little bit, they should be able to use another solid display from Gio Gonzalez to earn a win from this game. Philadelphia are certainly playing the better baseball, but I have a feeling that Kyle Kendrick won't be able to get away with his recent performances again.
The Pick :
Philadelphia Phillies 2-3 Washington Nationals
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back the Washington Nationals @ 1.92 (Coral)
