This is the opener of a three-game series in New York between the Yankees and visiting Washington Nationals.
Brad Lord is scheduled to pitch for Washington, while Cam Schlittler is slated to start for New York.
Nationals at Yankees prediction, preview
Brad Lord hasn’t been performing miracles, but he’s definitely garnered his share of disciples this season. Through 96.1 innings, the ERA is 3.46, which is supported by the 3.65 FIP. The fastball averages 95.1 mph while only allowing eight home runs. The strikeout rate is only 19.4%, though, and the swinging strike and chase rates aren’t great. The groundball rate is 51.6%, barrel rate is 5.2% and the average exit velocity is 87.9 mph.
The K-BB% is higher against lefties, but they have hit six of the eight home runs. The numbers are similar at home and on the road, but six of the eight home runs have been served up at home.
Lord has allowed more than three earned runs only twice, with one coming in the most recent start. He’s gone at least six innings only three times because he spent much of the season in the bullpen. He’s made 12 starts on the season. This will be the first time facing the Yankees this season.
Against right-handed pitching, the Yankees strike out at the fifth-highest rate while having the best ISO. Their wOBA is second-best in MLB.
Cam Schlittler has made seven starts and pitched 36.1 innings during this first stint in MLB. The ERA is 3.22 but the FIP is much higher at 4.57. The fastball averages 97.8 mph and the strikeout rate is 24.8%. The swinging strike rate is 11.4% while the chase rate is 33%. The fastball is his best pitch and only one with a postive run value. Now, the strand rate is 88.7% and he has been getting hit relatively hard. The average exit velocity is 90.3 mph, barrel rate is 9.2% and hard hit rate is 41.8%. He’s allowed six home runs.
Schlittler has been better against lefties, as the K-BB% is slightly higher while the HR/9 is 2.25 against righties and only 0.89 against lefties. The numbers are almost identical at home and on the road, with the main difference in the HR/9: 1.83 vs. 1.08.
Schlittler has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his seven starts. In his last outing, he went a season-high 6.2 innings and notched his first shutout. This will be the first time facing the Nationals this season.
Against right-handed pitching, the Nationals strike out at the 26th-highest rate while having the 24th-best ISO. Their wOBA is 20th-best in MLB.
As for the bullpens, Washington has the 28th-lowest FIP, while New York has the 23rd-lowest since Aug. 1.
Nationals at Yankees pick, best bet
I do think Lord pitches well and stymies the Yankees offense, but I have serious concerns about the Nationals bullpen. On the flip side, I’m not too concerned about the Nationals offense and think Schlittler continues pitching well.
