MLB weekend preview: Indians at Nationals
September 27th, 2019
The Cleveland Indians (93-66) will be fighting for a shot at an American League wild-card game appearance when they visit the Washington Nationals (90-69), who hope to clinch home-field advantage for their wild-card game in the National League. Here's what bettors should be looking for during this weekend's series.
Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET
| Team | Run Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|
Cleveland Indians | +1.5 (-160) | +120 | Over 9.5 (-105) |
Washington Nationals | -1.5 (+135) | -140 | Under 9.5 (-115) |
Two young starters, in the Indians' Zach Plesac (8-6, 3.82 ERA) and the Nationals' Austin Voth (1-1, 3.35 ERA), will play in perhaps the most meaningful game of their careers Friday night. The home team appears to have the advantage.
Plesac has just one quality start in his last six outings. His ERA in that span is 5.12, and his WHIP is 1.345. Behind him is a bullpen that is 23rd in ERA over the last 30 days at 4.71. The Nationals are fifth in runs per game at home (5.47). Washington infielders Trea Turner (.375 average, four home runs over the last seven days) and Howie Kendrick (.389 average, last seven days) to continue their hot-hitting ways.
Plesac has just one quality start in his last six outings. His ERA in that span is 5.12, and his WHIP is 1.345. Behind him is a bullpen that is 23rd in ERA over the last 30 days at 4.71. The Nationals are fifth in runs per game at home (5.47). Washington infielders Trea Turner (.375 average, four home runs over the last seven days) and Howie Kendrick (.389 average, last seven days) to continue their hot-hitting ways.
Voth owns a 1.96 ERA and .203 opponent batting average in five appearances since the All-Star break. Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor has picked an inopportune time to go cold (he's batting just .185 over his last 15 games).
Corbin's home splits are exemplary. He is 8-2 in 15 starts, with a 1.97 ERA and 4.18 strikeout/walk ratio. Opponents are batting just .191 against him at Nationals Park this year.
MLB free play: Nationals moneyline
Saturday, 4:05 p.m. ET, FS1
Nationals starter Patrick Corbin (14-7, 3.05 ERA) should end his regular season on a high note against Adam Plutko (7-4, 4.25 ERA).Corbin's home splits are exemplary. He is 8-2 in 15 starts, with a 1.97 ERA and 4.18 strikeout/walk ratio. Opponents are batting just .191 against him at Nationals Park this year.
Patrick Corbin has a 2.24 ERA last 18 starts. Will reach 200 innings for 3rd time this season and will finish with the best ERA of his career unless he gets rocked this weekend.
— Corey Seidman (@CSeidmanNBCS) September 24, 2019
Especially impressive given the leaguewide rise in ERA from 4.14 last season to 4.51 this season.
Plutko has been ineffective in 11 appearances on the road, where he has produced a 4.60 ERA and .289 opponent batting average. Since the All-Star break, his strikeout/walk ratio is 2.45.
Sunday, 3:05 p.m. ET
Mike Clevinger (13-3, 2.39 ERA) is lined up for Cleveland for its season finale, while Washington has yet to name a starter. It will most likely not be staff ace Max Scherzer, whom Nationals skipper Dave Martinez has solidified as the wild-card game starter."We have, really, four guys right now that are pitching really well," Martinez told MLB.com Tuesday. "But ... that's Max (Scherzer's) day, and he's one of the best."
Assuming Washington goes with a spot starter Sunday, that could give the Nationals' 26th-ranked bullpen by ERA over the last 30 days (5.09) too much work to do, which gives the Tribe the upper hand.
Clevinger, the AL Pitcher of the Month for August, has had a stupendous September. He is 3-1 in five starts, with a 1.57 ERA and 0.961 WHIP. It's tough to envision him not handing his bullpen the lead when his day is done.
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