MLB Predictions: Is the total in Nationals vs. Cardinals set too low? 7/1/17
Will tonight’s Nationals and Cardinals matchup go over the betting total at 7:15PM ET?
The Matchup: Nationals vs. Cardinals, 7:15PM ET, Busch Stadium
Washington enters play with a 47-33 record and is 25-16 on the road this season. The Nationals have split, however, over their last 10 games. After blowing yet another game in the ninth inning on Thursday versus the Cubs, the Nats turned around and were blown out 8-1 on Friday in St. Louis.
St. Louis, meanwhile, is 38-41 on the year and 21-20 at home, but is playing better of late. The Cards have won six of their last 10 games and three in a row. After beating the Diamondbacks twice in Arizona, the Cardinals won yesterday versus the Nationals and might be ready to get hot.
According to oddsmakers, the Cardinals are -113 money line favorites versus the Nationals. Washington, meanwhile, is a +104 money line underdog to pull off the upset. The total sits at 9 runs.
The Pitching Matchup: Gio Gonzalez (WAS) vs. Michael Wacha (STL)
Gonzalez is 7-2 on the year and owns a 2.87 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. He took the hard-luck loss against the Cubs in his last outing, pitching six innings of one-run ball in a 5-4 defeat. Gonzalez issued five walks but struck out eight and limited Chicago to just two hits.
As for Wacha, he’s coming off a good start against the Reds. He held Cincinnati’s dangerous offense to just one run on five hits over six innings. It was the first time in three starts that Wacha pitched more than four innings. He’s 4-3 on the year but owns a 4.50 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. With Luke Weaver dominating in the minors, Wacha’s spot in the rotation is tenuous.
Our Prediction
The over is 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings between these two teams and 3-0-4 in the last seven meetings in St. Louis. The over is also 6-1 in Gonzalez’s last seven road games and is 5-2-1 in the Nationals’ last eight road games. On the other side, the over is 5-1-1 in the Cardinals’ last seven games, is 3-0-1 in their last four home games, and is 6-1 in Wacha’s last seven home starts.
Saturday MLB Prediction: Nationals/Cardinals over 9
