Washington (81-53) at Milwaukee (71-64)
When: Saturday, September 2nd 2017
Where: Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: MASN2, FSN Wisconsin
Opening Odds: Washington -190/8.5
Open an Account at Bovada Sportsbook Now! Sign up at Bovada.lv to get a $250 Signup Bonus to bet MLB Baseball odds and props!
The Milwaukee Brewers look to stay hot and inch closer to a playoff spot when they continue their four-game series with the Washington Nationals on Saturday night at Miller Park. After struggling for most of the season, Jonathan Villar has gone 9-for-15 with five RBIs in his last four games to help Milwaukee move to within 3.5 games behind the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs and just 1.5 back of the fading Colorado Rockies for the second wild card. Jimmy Nelson struck out 11 over seven shutout innings and Neil Walker hit a solo homer in Friday’s 1-0 victory as the Brewers improved to 61-6 when leading after seven innings. Closer Corey Knebel has not allowed a run in his last 19 games for Milwaukee, which has won three in a row and five of its last six. Washington struck out 17 times in Friday’s game and wasted a superb start by Tanner Roark but still saw its magic number to win the NL East drop to 14 following Miami’s loss to the Phillies. The Nationals’ bullpen saw the return of Ryan Madson, who was activated from the disabled list after missing the past 17 games with a sprained right finger. Both teams brought-up several players from the minors as rosters have been expanded for September. Washington recalled RHP Erick Fedde, RHP Austin Adams, and C Raudy Read from the minors, while the Brewers added OF Brett Phillips, RHP Junior Guerra and LHP Wei-Chung Wang from Colorado Springs along with RHP Taylor Williams from Double-A Biloxi.
Pitchers: Nationals – Max Scherzer (13-5, 2.21 ERA) | Brewers – Brandon Woodruff (1-1, 1.62)
Max Scherzer came back from a two-game abscence with inflammation in the left side of his neck to shut down the Miami Marlins in an 11-2 Washington victory last Monday. He allowed one run and struck out 10 over seven innings. Scherzer posted a 2.05 ERA in four August starts and has won his last five decisions dating back to the end of June. Ryan Braun is hitless in 13 at-bats against Scherzer, who is 2-2 with a 2.48 ERA in seven career starts against the Brewers and has allowed one earned run or fewer in five of those outings.
FLORIDA STATE VS ALABAMA PREVIEW AND FREE PICK
Brandon Woodruff will make his fourth career start after being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs for the second time. Woodruff was sent to the minors on August 20th because the Brewers had several upcoming off days and wanted to keep the rookie on schedule. Woodruff received a no-decision in his last start with Milwaukee on August 19th when he allowed one run over 4.2 innings at Colorado. His control issues (8 walks, 16 innings) have prevented him from going deep into games.
[ad id=’36449′]
Milwaukee his hot right now, but they’re going up against one of the best here tonight. The Nationals still don’t have Bryce Harper in the lineup, but Trea Turner and Jayson Werth are back. I like the Nationals to hit Woodruff and cruise to an easy win.
Pick: Nationals -1.5 -118
BETTING TRENDS:
- Nationals are 7-0 in their last 7 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 6-1 in their last 7 games after losing the first 2 games of a series.
- Nationals are 15-3 in their last 18 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 9-3 in their last 12 during game 3 of a series.
- Nationals are 9-4 in their last 13 vs. National League Central.
- Nationals are 42-19 in their last 61 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 40-19 in their last 59 games following a loss.
- Nationals are 21-10 in their last 31 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Nationals are 4-0 in Scherzer’s last 4 starts vs. National League Central.
- Nationals are 5-1 in Scherzer’s last 6 Saturday starts.
- Nationals are 9-2 in Scherzer’s last 11 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 9-2 in Scherzer’s last 11 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 4-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 20-6 in Scherzer’s last 26 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Nationals are 19-7 in Scherzer’s last 26 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 19-7 in Scherzer’s last 26 road starts.
- Nationals are 19-7 in Scherzer’s last 26 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 23-9 in Scherzer’s last 32 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Nationals are 5-2 in Scherzer’s last 7 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 36-16 in Scherzer’s last 52 starts.
- Nationals are 36-16 in Scherzer’s last 52 starts on grass.
- Brewers are 7-0 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Brewers are 4-0 in their last 4 Saturday games.
- Brewers are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Brewers are 7-1 in their last 8 home games.
- Brewers are 6-1 in their last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Brewers are 5-1 in their last 6 overall.
- Brewers are 5-1 in their last 6 games on grass.
- Brewers are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Brewers are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Brewers are 37-79 in their last 116 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 8-1-2 in Nationals last 11 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 7-1-2 in Nationals last 10 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1-1 in Nationals last 8 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1-2 in Nationals last 9 road games.
- Under is 6-1-2 in Nationals last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Nationals last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Nationals last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Nationals last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 9-3-2 in Nationals last 14 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Nationals last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Nationals last 8 overall.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Nationals last 8 on grass.
- Over is 5-0-1 in Scherzer’s last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 4-0-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Scherzer’s last 4 road starts.
- Over is 7-1-1 in Scherzer’s last 9 starts on grass.
- Over is 7-1-1 in Scherzer’s last 9 starts overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Scherzer’s last 5 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Over is 8-2 in Scherzer’s last 10 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 7-2 in Scherzer’s last 9 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 13-4-4 in Scherzer’s last 21 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Brewers last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Brewers last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 12-2 in Brewers last 14 during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 8-2-1 in Brewers last 11 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Brewers last 5 Saturday games.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Brewers last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 7-2-2 in Brewers last 11 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Brewers last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 15-5-2 in Brewers last 22 games following a win.
- Over is 6-2-1 in Brewers last 9 home games.
- Under is 21-7-2 in Brewers last 30 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 35-13-3 in Brewers last 51 overall.
- Under is 35-13-3 in Brewers last 51 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 20-8-3 in Brewers last 31 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 38-17-4 in Brewers last 59 on grass.
- Nationals are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in Milwaukee.
