Down the final few weeks of the MLB season, things tend to get weird. Games are played between teams with everything on the line and nothing on the line; this is one such game. The New York Yankees are in the midst of an exciting playoff chase, while the Washington Nationals’ season is long over.
The Yankees are a -182 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 8.5 runs. Let’s dig into a preview, prediction, and best bet for this Nationals vs. Yankees game.
Nationals vs. Yankees prediction, preview
Tuesday’s matchup features two young starting pitchers with some hardware to show off.
Luis Gil is slowly getting back on track for the Yankees. After winning the AL Rookie of the Year award last year, Gil missed the majority of this season due to a lat strain. Tuesday’s contest will be the fifth start under his belt this season, and it couldn’t be more critical; New York is neck-and-neck with the Red Sox and Mariners for Wild Card spots.
Walks were a serious problem last year for the 27-year-old right-hander. He led all of baseball in walks allowed, and the same issues persist this year. Gil has issued 13 free passes in 19 innings so far. Facing a subpar Washington lineup, giving them free rallies could cost him in a big way. Gil will need to miss barrels and work his slider well to keep a lid on things.
Keeping the lid on has been a struggle recently for MacKenzie Gore. The 26-year-old made his first All-Star game this season, pitching to a 3.02 ERA in 19 starts before the Midsummer Classic. Since then, things have gone off a cliff. Gore is pitching to a 7.88 ERA in seven starts since the break. Walks are up, strikeouts are down, and he’s been very susceptible to the big innings.
It’s a bad time to face the Yankees when your hard-hit rate is going through the roof. Playing at Yankee Stadium only compounds the problem. With Gil off to a rocky start, and Gore scuffling, I’m taking the over.
