MLB Baseball
2012-07-25 - Washington Nationals at New York Mets
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Wednesday 25 July 2012 - First Pitch 12:10pm ET
5:10pm (British Standard Time)
Preview
The Washington Nationals (57-39) have shown no signs of giving up their lead in the National League East and will be looking to complete a three game sweep of this series and push themselves further ahead of the New York Mets (47-50).
Washington have opened up a 4.5 game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the Division and they are a further 6 games clear of the Mets after taking the first two games of this series. There is already a real concern for New York that they are going to fall out of the race with a rapid decline of fortunes since the All-Star break, while injuries are also taking their toll.
Those injuries have really hit the Mets pitching staff and that means Jeremy Hefner will be given another start tonight after going 1-3 with a 5.85 ERA so far on the season, but a record that declines to 1-2 and a 6.89 ERA in his three starts.
Hefner has only recently been recalled from the Minor Leagues as injuries take their toll and he gave up 2 runs in 2 innings during a relief appearance. The pitcher last started a game at the beginning of June, against Washington no less, and gave up 4 runs in 6 innings as the Mets were beaten 5-3.
While the Mets starting pitching staff have been depleted, Washington can thank their own for the fact that they are the leading team in the NL East. The starters have a combined 3.14 ERA this season, and have a real chance of eclipsing the 3.05 ERA that is a franchise record from the 1988 season as the Montreal Expos.
Stephen Strasburg will be given the ball and will be bidding to erase a recent bad run of starts that has seen him given the win in just 1 of his last 5 starts. Strasburg is 10-4 with a 2.83 ERA this season, but he is coming off a rough outing when he gave up 4 runs to the Atlanta Braves in the 6th inning and didn't receive the decision despite being backed by 9 runs.
The pitcher is 1-0 against the New York Mets and holds a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings pitched against them. He didn't give up a run when pitching here earlier this season.
Head to Head
Washington are leading the National League East and they have dominated the New York Mets this season and hold a 8-3 edge in the 2012 year.
New York have lost 4 in a row at home to the Nationals and are just 1-8 in their last 9 at home against them.
New York are 26-25 at home this season, Washington are 29-20 on the road.
The Mets are 22-17 in day games this season, Washington are 20-16.
Prediction
The New York Mets are fading fast in the National League East and a lot of that is down to how the Washington Nationals have continued to dominate the series against them.
There is a clear difference on the mound between the pitchers going up tonight, while Washington are also driving in plenty of runs at the moment and that should all lead to a win for the Nationals by a couple of runs at the least.
I won't go in too big as Stephen Strasburg has been having a tough stretch at the moment and there are suggestions his pitch count will be limited soon so his arm is kept fresh for what looks like being a post-season appearance for them.
The Pick :
New York Mets 3-6 Washington Nationals
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back the Washington Nationals - 1.5 Runs @ 2.00
