Prediction & Best Bets Nationals vs Dodgers (5/31)

After scoring 15 runs in winning the first two games of the series, the Los Angeles Dodgers will look to break out the brooms this afternoon against the visiting Washington Nationals.

The Dodgers (34-22, 19-7 home) used an excellent start by rookie Bobby Miller to claim a 6-1 win in Monday’s opener and another excellent start by Tony Gonsolin, as well as three homers and 13 hits, to claim a 9-3 win last night.

Today, the Nationals (23-32, 12-15 away) will be hoping for the good version of Patrick Corbin, who will be looking to win his fourth straight start.

Will the NL West leaders finish off the sweep at home? Read on for our prediction and picks for today’s Nationals vs Dodgers game.

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Washington Nationals vs Los Angeles Dodgers Odds

Moneyline

• Washington Nationals +194
• Los Angeles Dodgers -235

Over/Under

• Over 9.5 (-110)
• Under 9.5 (-110)

Run Line

• Washington Nationals +1.5 (-104)
• Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-115)

Pitching Matchup for Nationals vs Dodgers

• Washington Nationals: LHP Patrick Corbin (11 starts, 4-5, 4.88 ERA)
• Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Noah Syndergaard (10 starts, 1-4, 6.27 ERA)

Spotlight on Both Starters in Los Angeles

Yesterday’s game went over, and if both of today’s starting pitchers perform as they did last Friday, today’s game will go well over.

In Corbin’s start at Kansas City, he allowed six runs, seven hits, and four walks in 6.1 innings.

In Syndergaard’s start at Tampa Bay, he allowed six runs and eight hits in six innings.

But whereas Syndergaard was saddled with the loss in the Rays’ 9-3 win, Corbin picked up the win in the Nationals’ 12-10 win over the Royals.

It was a third straight win in three starts for Corbin, who had seen his season ERA drop over each of his previous eight starts before taking a step back in K.C.

Both Corbin and Syndergaard entered May with one win, but Syndergaard hasn’t added to his total over his four starts.

How will they both fare today? Based on the numbers, this is actually a more favorable matchup for both starters.

While the Nationals have been at their best against lefties, the Dodgers have been at their best against righties.

The Nationals are hitting only .249 and averaging 3.74 runs per game in games started by RHP and hitting .288 and averaging 4.95 runs per game in games started by LHP, while the Dodgers are hitting only .217 and averaging 4.65 runs per game in games started by LHP and hitting .250 and averaging six runs per game in games started by RHP.

Those numbers have been backed up in this series thus far. The Nationals scored only one run apiece against righties Miller and Gonsolin in the first two games, while the Dodgers did some damage against righties Trevor Williams and Jake Irvin.

Washington Nationals vs Los Angeles Dodgers Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction for Nationals vs Dodgers: Dodgers to win

Best Bets for Nationals vs Dodgers: Dodgers -1.5 & Dodgers team total over 5.5 runs

Though things have been going much better for Corbin than they have for Syndergaard, I’m still backing the home team to break out the brooms this afternoon.

This isn’t a particularly favorable mound matchup for the Dodgers, but Dodger Stadium hasn’t been a particularly positive venue for Corbin. Since going 2-0 in his first three starts there, he is 1-6 in his last ten starts and surrendered a dozen runs and 13 hits total in just five innings in his two most recent outings there.