Washington Nationals vs Houston Astros 6/14/2023 Betting Odds, Tips and Picks

Washington Nationals vs Houston Astros 6/14/2023 – In Wednesday’s game two of the series, the Houston Astros will continue their home advantage against the Washington Nationals. With four wins in their last ten games, the Astros currently hold the second position in the AL West. Since the unforgettable 2019 World Series, these two franchises have experienced significant changes. The Washington Nationals, currently in a rebuilding phase with a record of 26-38, have struggled to regain their 2019 glory. But the Houston Astros are picked to win this game according to the best baseball bets today.

Washington Nationals vs Houston Astros 6/14/2023

Washington Nationals vs Houston Astros 6/14/2023

Team	RL	TOTAL	ML
Washington Nationals	+1.5 (+100)	7.5 o (-115)	+216
Houston Astros	-1.5 (-120)	7.5 u (-105)	-240

gripping.

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 13, 2023

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals find themselves in a challenging position as they sit at the bottom of the NL East standings. With just three victories in their last ten games, they arrived in Houston with a mediocre 14-17 road record. Despite their struggles, the Nationals displayed some offensive firepower on Sunday when they secured a win against the Braves, scoring six runs. Jeimer Candelario and Dominic Smith played pivotal roles in the victory, contributing two RBIs each.
Taking the mound for the Washington Nationals in this crucial matchup is Josiah Gray, who will be making his 14th start of the season. Gray holds a 4-5 record, having pitched for 72 innings. With 61 strikeouts to his name, Gray carries an impressive 3.00 ERA. In his previous outing, he showcased his skills by pitching five innings, allowing just one earned run on two hits.

Washington’s NL East Struggle

The Nationals’ recent performance has been less than stellar, with a disappointing 3-9 stretch leading up to this series. Occupying the last place in the NL East, they languish near the bottom of the National League standings. One area where they have room for improvement is their pitching, as they currently rank 25th in ERA.
The team’s relievers have also struggled, arriving in Texas with a 28th-ranked ERA and a -0.1 WAR per FanGraphs. With such a burden on the starting pitching staff, Josiah Gray’s contributions become crucial, especially considering his ability to deliver thus far. Gray’s impressive 3.00 ERA has significantly led the Nationals to victory in six of his past nine starts.
As the Nationals face the Houston Astros, they must overcome their recent struggles and rely on Josiah Gray’s consistent performance on the mound. The team’s success will heavily depend on their ability to improve their pitching overall, particularly from the bullpen. With the Astros holding a formidable position in the AL West, the Nationals must bring their A-game to secure a victory and turn their season around.

Players to watch: Joey Meneses DH (GP 62, AB 255, R 27, H 77, 2B 15, 3B 1, HR 2, RBI 32, TB 100, BB 17, SO 50, SB 0, AVG 0.302, OBP 0.346, SLG 0.392, OPS 0.738, WAR 0.5, Lane Thomas RF (GP 64, AB 250, R 43, H 71, 2B 14, 3B 2, HR 9, RBI 30, TB 116, BB 18, SO 70, SB 6, AVG 0.284, OBP 0.338, SLG 0.464, OPS 0.802, WAR 1.5.

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros have had a mixed performance in their recent games, winning four out of their last ten contests, placing them in the second position in the AL West. However, their momentum was halted when they suffered a 5-0 shutout against Cleveland on Sunday. The Astros hold an 18-14 record at home as the series begins, showcasing their strength on familiar territory.
Taking the mound for the Houston Astros in this crucial matchup is Framber Valdez, who is set to make his 14th start of the season. Valdez has recorded a solid 6-5 record, pitching 84 innings. With an impressive 89 strikeouts, Valdez carries a formidable 2.36 ERA.
In his most recent outing, he pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits. It was a slight deviation from his usual dominant performances, as he had previously thrown 22.0 innings of one-run ball. Nonetheless, Valdez enters this game with remarkable overall statistics, boasting a 2.94 FIP and a 1.060 WHIP. He is expected to bounce back and deliver a stronger performance against the Nationals.

Houston’s inconsistent offense

The Astros’ offensive capabilities have been inconsistent this season. Although they have scored at least five runs in six separate games this month, they have also struggled to produce two or fewer runs on five occasions. As a result, they currently rank 14th in runs per game. The absence of Yordan Alvarez, their best hitter, and primary home run threat, has further impacted their offensive output.
Without Alvarez’s presence, the team is finding it challenging to hit the long ball, thus putting pressure on the rest of the lineup. Alvarez’s absence also affects the overall batting order, as his presence in the lineup helps other hitters see better pitches. Moreover, the Astros’ on-base percentage has been less than impressive, contributing to potential difficulties at the plate in the foreseeable future.

Players to watch: Alex Bregman 3B (GP 66, AB 255, R 37, H 63, 2B 8, 3B 1, HR 9, RBI 39, TB 100, BB 36, SO 37, SB 1, AVG 0.247, OBP 0.344, SLG 0.392, OPS 0.736, WAR 1.3, Jose Abreu 1B (GP 65, AB 249, R 18, H 56, 2B 9, 3B 0, HR 3, RBI 30, TB 74, BB 18, SO 64, SB 0, AVG 0.225, OBP 0.282, SLG 0.297, OPS 0.579, WAR -1.3

Washington Nationals vs Houston Astros Betting Numbers

Trends

Washington Nationals

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington’s last five games.
Washington is 1-7 SU in their last eight games.
Washington is 3-6 SU in their last nine games against Houston.
Washington is 2-6 SU in their last eight games on the road.
Washington is 12-2 SU in their last 14 games when playing on the road against Houston.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington’s last six games against an opponent in the American League.

Houston Astros

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston’s last seven games.
Houston is 2-5 SU in their last seven games.
Houston is 4-1 SU in their last five games at home.
Houston is 2-12 SU in their last 14 games when home against Washington.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston’s last five games against an opponent in the National League East Division.
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Houston’s last 13 games played on a Wednesday.