The Philadelphia Phillies (94-66) are ready to take on the Washington Nationals (70-90) on Saturday at Nationals Park and the level of preparation matches the level of stakes of both teams. While the Phillies look to scout positioning for the playoffs, the Nationals seek to play the role of spoilers in this divisional battle as they get ready for an important interdivisional battle. This game clearly has a high level of drama and is certainly one purpose for all who are following daily MLB free picks.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals 9/28/24 Game Info and Odds |
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| When: | Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 4:05 PM ET |
| Where: | Nationals Park |
| Watch: | MLBN, ESPN, MASN, MLB.TV |
| Phillies odds: | -227 Moneyline |
| Nationals odds: | +190 Moneyline |
| Total Line: | 8 |
Philadelphia Phillies (94-66) vs. Washington Nationals (70-90)
The Philadelphia Phillies have been a dominant force this season, but recent games have shown some vulnerabilities, especially on the road where they’ve lost 5 out of their last 6 games. Despite these recent struggles, their overall record remains impressive thanks to a powerful lineup and solid pitching staff. The Phillies are coming off a series against the Chicago Cubs, where they won two out of three games, showing resilience and capacity to bounce back.
| Philadelphia Phillies Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 25, 2024 | CHC | 9-6 | Win |
| Sep 24, 2024 | CHC | 4-10 | Lose |
| Sep 23, 2024 | CHC | 6-2 | Win |
| Sep 22, 2024 | NYM | 1-2 | Lose |
| Sep 21, 2024 | NYM | 3-6 | Lose |
In contrast, the Washington Nationals have found this season challenging, holding a dismal 70-90 record. The Nationals have struggled both offensively and defensively, evident from their last series against the Kansas City Royals where they managed only one win in three games. This form has been a consistent theme for the Nationals this season, as they seem unable to string together wins or show significant resistance against stronger teams.
| Washington Nationals Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 26, 2024 | KC | 4-7 | Lose |
| Sep 25, 2024 | KC | 0-3 | Lose |
| Sep 24, 2024 | KC | 0-1 | Lose |
| Sep 22, 2024 | CHC | 0-5 | Lose |
| Sep 21, 2024 | CHC | 5-1 | Win |
Zack Wheeler (16-7, 2.56 ERA) vs. MacKenzie Gore (10-12, 4.04 ERA)
Zack Wheeler has been one of the reliable pitchers for the Phillies STARTS TEAM as he has a remarkable ERA of 2.56 and a Whip of less than one which is illustrative of how he is able to control the number of base runners, and win the game. How 213 strikeouts within just under 194 innings is his prowess against the best in the league. Today’s matchup surely gives Wheeler the edge to be in charge of the game, utilizing his fastball-slider combination with which he has confused hitters all season long Author.
On the other hand, MacKenzie Gore shows a different picture altogether for the Nationals. With an overall record of 10-12, and with an ERA of over four, he has had ups and downs this season. One more side factor is his WHIP of 1.45 which proves he had control issues and more hits/walks per inning. Considering that a tough group of batsmen line up against Gore in the form of quenched Phillies, it would be silent for him to deal with the game early and wade through the ninety-order of the city with his left hands over a right-heavy batters club.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Philadelphia Phillies -227, Total Odds: 8
Many different angles from this game can be analyzed from the form represented and stable facts about the teams. For example, if the contestants were to be considered for this case, the Phillies would be best rated. However, the focus on the four recent home matchups and their tendency to be of small margins may cause, among many others, the underbet to be attractive to the bettors.
Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends
The Phillies have proven they can rack up the runs scoring OVER in 6 of their last 8. On the other hand, their recent performance away from home, especially concerning winning runs, may discourage some bettors.
Washington Nationals Betting Trends
The Nationals have largely played as outsiders with their betting trends moving towards the adoption of the under, with the total going UNDER in 4 of their last 5 home games against Philadelphia as well. This trend means that there is likely to be less scoring in the match up.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals 9/28/24 Betting Picks
Based on the evaluation, it is the overwhelming best option to back Philadelphia, particularly to win by more than that margin, given the offensive strength of the Phillies’ line-up coupled with Wheeler’s effective pitch on the mound. The total has some possibilities of appearing to be a riskier proposition; however, because of the trends and matchups, it would be wise to go with the under-looking at the injuries circumstances of the pitching environment.
As to prop bets, the number of Wheeler’s strikeouts seems to be a good option, and making a case for the Phillies to score first and to be leading after 5 innings seems to be a useful bet. For those searching for premium picks and parlays, these things can also be combined with Phillies’ moneyline to maximize the profits for the sharp bettor.