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Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals Prediction MLB Picks 4/20/24
Pick details
Washington Nationals (8-11) vs Houston Astros (7-14)
April 20, 2024 at 04:05 PM EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Washington Nationals +159 / Houston Astros -189 — Over/Under: 9.5
The Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals meet Saturday in MLB action from Nationals Park. Here’s an Astros vs Nationals prediction. This will be the second installment in a three-game weekend series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game. We will examine:
• The Houston Astros recent form and player performance
• The Washington Nationals recent form and player performance
• Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Houston Astros
• Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Washington Nationals
• Recent betting trends in games played between the Astros and Nationals
• A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Astros vs Nationals game
Houston Astros Betting Preview
The Astros took on the Atlanta Braves in their last set. Houston struggled in that series, dropping all three games for a sweep. On Friday versus the Nationals, the Astros posted 13 team hits on the way to a 5-3 win. Starter Justin Verlander put up 6.0 innings with two earned on four hits and no walks.
As starter for the Saturday game two, the Astros will send out Ronel Blanco. Over his three starts this year Blanco is 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA and 16 Ks in 21.0 innings. Blanco has a career record of 4-1 with a 3.74 ERA in 27 games (10 starts).
Washington Nationals Betting Preview
Over on the Nationals’ side, they did fairly well against the Los Angeles Dodgers this week, winning two of three games. On Friday Washington showed a bit of life in the ninth inning but ultimately couldn’t dig out of the early hole. MacKenzie Gore lasted 4.0 frames with three earned on seven hits and a walk.
It’ll be Trevor Williams in the starting role for the Nationals on Saturday. This year Williams is 2-0 with a 3.45 ERA and 14 Ks over 15.2 innings in his three starts. In his career Williams is 46-54 with a 4.46 ERA in 192 games (151 starts).
Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts
- Keibert Ruiz has recorded at least one hit in each of his 11 previous appearances against AL West opponents that held a losing record.
- Keibert Ruiz has scored at least one run in each of his last four appearances against AL West opponents.
- Keibert Ruiz has recorded at least one RBI in four of his last five appearances against AL West opponents that held a losing record.
- Lane Thomas has recorded at least one Single in each of the Nationals’ last six home games against AL West opponents.
- Keibert Ruiz has recorded at least one total base in each of his 11 previous appearances against AL West opponents that held a losing record.
- CJ Abrams has recorded at least one Double in each of the Nationals’ last three day games against AL opponents that held a losing record.
- Joey Meneses has hit at least one home run in three of the Nationals’ last four games as home underdogs against AL West opponents.
- Jesse Winker ranks 2nd amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.458) this season.
Houston Astros Player Prop Facts
- Yordan Alvarez has hit a home run in each of the Astros’ last two day games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Jose Altuve has recorded two or more hits in each of the Astros’ last five day games.
- Yordan Alvarez has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Astros’ last four day games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Kyle Tucker has scored at least one run in each of the Astros’ last six road games against NL opponents.
- Chas McCormick has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Astros’ last six day games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Jeremy Pena has recorded at least one Single in each of the Astros’ last nine games as favorites.
- Jose Altuve ranks 1st amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.376) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Washington Nationals rank 2nd in the league for steals this season (34).
- The Washington Nationals rank 29th in the league for opponent batting average this season (.277).
- The Houston Astros rank 1st in the league for hits this season (201).
- The Houston Astros rank 1st in the league for strikeouts against this season (139).
Astros vs Nationals Prediction
I’ll stay with the Astros. This one should be fairly close though, at least initially. Blanco is doing well so far on the mound. He’s 2-0 in his three starts with just two earned runs in 21.0 total innings. As for Williams, he hasn’t been too bad over his last trio with 15.2 innings and six earned runs combined.
On Friday the Astros got multiple hits from five different batters. Jeremy Pena (RBI; run) and Mauricio Dubon (RBI) each had three hits in a nice offensive performance. Verlander and the rest of the pitching staff were also strong. I like Houston to keep it up in game two.
