On Sunday, the Boston Red Sox will take on the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, and we have you ready to go with our Red Sox vs. Nationals prediction. First pitch from Washington, DC is at 1:35 p.m. ET.
Boston beat Washington 11-2 on Friday. The Red Sox are 7-3 in their last ten meetings with the Nationals, and the under was 7-3 in those ten games. If you want the Red Sox vs. Nationals prediction, read on and check out our MLB Predictions to beat the sportsbooks!
*Article published before the conclusion of Saturday's game.
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Boston will give the ball to their ace
Boston (44-45 SU, 43-46 RL, and 42-46-1 O/U) won two of three against Cincinnati in its previous series. The Red Sox are 4-6 in their last ten games (the over went 6-4).
Boston will start lefty Garrett Crochet on Sunday against Washington. In his previous appearance (6.0 IP win vs the Reds), the 26-year-old surrendered five runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts. He is 8-4 with a 2.34 ERA and 1.04 WHIP this year (18 starts), including 7-1 with a 2.01 ERA and 0.93 WHIP on the road (10 starts).
The Red Sox added several significant pieces this offseason, including Crochet, Alex Bregman (.299 BA/.385 OBP/.938 OPS), and Aroldis Chapman (1.29 ERA with 51 Ks in 35.0 IP), but the club hasn't been competitive enough. That contributed to management's decision to trade Rafael Devers (.261 BA/.384 OBP/.862 OPS) to San Francisco, signaling the white flag. How will the move affect the team going forward?
Boston Red Sox Baseball Injury Report: No new injuries to report for tomorrow's game against the Nationals.
Nationals are looking to a call-up for a spot start
Washington (37-51 SU, 45-43 RL, and 44-41-3 O/U) won two of three against Detroit in its previous series. The Nationals are 5-5 in their last ten games (the over was 8-2).
Washington hasn't named a probable starter for Sunday's game. The Nationals will look for a spot starter after losing Trevor Williams to an elbow strain. Cade Cavalli is anticipated to be named the starter, as the Nats recalled the right-hander on Friday evening. The 2020 first-round pick was 4-2 with a 4.32 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 12 minor league starts (50.0 IP) this year.
The Nationals boast an exciting young core with MacKenzie Gore (3.11 ERA in 18 starts), CJ Abrams (.287 BA/.358 OBP/.845 OPS), and James Wood (.292 BA/.395 OBP/.954 OPS). Former second-overall draft pick Dylan Crews (10-day IL) is also part of that group. Washington is unlikely to make a run into the MLB postseason, but the Nats are definitely on the come-up.
Washington Nationals Baseball Injury Report: No new injuries to report for Sunday's game against Boston.
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Betting Trend: The over is 15-10 in Washington's games against the AL this year.
Boston scored 60 runs in its previous ten games and has been a solid run producer on the road this season, averaging 4.5 per game. With an unestablished spot starter taking the hill for Washington and the game's worst bullpen (5.91 ERA) waiting in the wings, the Red Sox should score early and often tomorrow in DC.
Washington also entered Saturday's action on a hot streak (61 runs scored in their previous ten games). These ballclubs rank 10th (Red Sox) and 11th (Nats) in wRC+ over the last two weeks. Crochet may limit the home team's bats on Sunday, but the visitors' bullpen has been shaky recently, ranking 26th in ERA (5.57) over the previous 14 days.
I favor a wager on the over in Sunday's interleague series finale between Boston and Washington!
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