Brewers vs. Nationals prediction and odds for Wednesday, August 2 (Washington is live underdog)
The Nationals have crushed left-handed pitching all season long and that's still a strength even with Candelario gone.
By Josh Yourish
Yesterday, the Milwaukee Brewers ended their four-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory over the now 45-63 Washington Nationals. That brought Milwaukee to 58-50 and within a half game of first place in the NL Central. The Nationals will not just be looking to win this series as an underdog, they’ll be looking to do it without Jeimer Candelario who they traded away.
For the series finale this afternoon in DC, Milwaukee will hand the ball to Wade Miley against Mackenzie Gore and the Nats. Miley is 6-2 with a 3.06 ERA in 13 starts while Gore is 6-8 in his 21 starts with a 4.42 ERA.
Let’s get into the odds.
Brewers vs. Nationals odds, run line and total
Brewers vs. Nationals prediction and pick
Washington trading away Candelario is significant for this matchup specifically because they could use his bat against the left-handed Miley. The switch-hitting Candelario was solid against lefties, but the Nats can still win this one without him.
There haven’t been a lot of things that the Nats have been good at this year, but hitting lefties is one of them. Lane Thomas, who they wisely held onto has an OPS over 1.000 against left-handed pitching with a team high eight home runs and 23 RBI. Stone Garrett has six homers and has driven in 23 runs off lefties as well and has an .854 OPS. Washington is seventh in OPS against lefties this season, tied with the Dodgers, which is staggering. Meanwhile, Milwaukee is 27th.
Gore is still young and has some growing to do on the mound, but he has a great matchup against Milwaukee’s lineup and has a 4.38 FIP that is actually identical to Miley’s 4.38 FIP. Miley has had a bit better luck with his ERA in a smaller sample size, but luck always runs out. The Nats will outscore Milwaukee while the starters are in the game and as long as their bullpen can hold on they’ll take the game and the series.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change