Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals Pick

Philadelphia Phillies (39-34) vs. Washington Nationals (35-38), 6/20/19
Time: 7:05 pm ET Thursday, June 20
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Listed Pitchers: Nick Pivetta (4-1, 5.00 ERA, WHIP) vs. Erick Fedde (1-1, 3.68, 1.06)
TV: NBCS Philadelphia, MASN

After taking both games of a double-header Wednesday the Nationals seek a series sweep of the rival Phillies Thursday night in DC. How are we betting this game with our free MLB pick?

MLB Betting Odds

As of this writing Thursday’s MLB betting odds were holding off on lining this game, after Washington made a change in probable starting pitchers. Stephen Strasburg was expected to hit the hill Thursday but he’s been pushed back a day in favor of Erick Fedde.

Phillies vs. Nationals Set-Up

This series was supposed to start Monday but that and Tuesday’s game were rained out. Washington then swept a double-header from Philadelphia Wednesday by scores of 6-2 and 2-0. The Nationals won the first game Wednesday as -150 favorites with Patrick Corbin, then as -220 favorites with Max Scherzer in the nightcap.

With Wednesday’s losses Philadelphia is now 2-7 over its last nine games.

With Wednesday’s wins Washington is 16-7 over its last 23 games.

At 39-34 the Phillies now trail first-place Atlanta by four games in the NL East, with the 35-38 Nationals eight games out of first. Philadelphia is also tied with Colorado for the second National League wild-card spot, with Washington four games back.

The Nationals now lead the season series with the Phillies six games to four.

Thursday’s Starting Arms

Fedde, by our strict accounting, is 0/5 on quality starts this season, to go along with five appearances in relief. Last Thursday he gave up five runs and six hits, including a couple of home runs, over six innings of a 5-0 Nats loss to Arizona. And over his last three starts he’s allowed 10 runs and 17 hits, including four long balls, through 16 innings.

Washington is 2-3 in Fedde’s starts this season, 0-2 over his last two outings.

In three starts last year against Philadelphia Fedde allowed eight runs and 18 hits through 16 2/3 innings. The Nationals won two of those three games.

Pivetta is 2/8 on quality starts this season but two for his last three. Last Friday he gave up four runs and eight hits, including three dingers, through 6 2/3 innings of a 9-8 loss at Atlanta. It took a bad performance to beat DJ but we took the L. But in his two starts previous to that he held the Dodgers and Cincinnati to one run and nine hits through 15 innings.

The Phillies are 5-3 with Pivetta this season.

Over his last five starts against Washington, four last season and one back in April of this season, Pivetta coughed up 24 runs and 30 hits through just 15 2/3 innings. Philly lost all five of those games.

Thursday’s Batting Splits

• Philadelphia is batting .237/.317/.408 against right-handed pitching this season. This lineup has also scored a total of just three runs over its last three games.

• Washington is batting .240/.312/.413 against RH pitching this season. This lineup has also scored at least five runs six times in its last nine games.

The Bullpens

• The Phillies bullpen owns a 4.69 ERA this season and a 1.47 WHIP.

• The Nationals pen owns a 6.20 ERA, which ranks as worst in the Majors, and a 1.53 WHIP, which ranks second-worst.

Totals Report

• Unders are 38-33 in Phillies games this season.

• Overs are 37-31 in Nationals games this season.

• Overs are 19-15 in games played at Nationals Park this season.

• Totals are split 5-5 in Phillies-Nationals games this season.

• Overs are 5-3 with Pivetta this season.

Free MLB Pick

This game sets up as a double play under the MLB streak betting theory, and while we don’t always abide by that method we’re going with it here. We’re taking Washington for our free MLB pick for Thursday.