Washington Nationals vs Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction, 5/14/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Arizona Diamondbacks

Date: Friday, May 14, 2021

Location: Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ

TV: Bally Sports Arizona

Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals (13-19, 5th in NL East) are headed to Chase Field on Friday where they'll take on the Arizona Diamondbacks (17-20, 4th in NL West).

Washington is slugging .378 and have struck out 272 times, while taking a walk on 91 occasions. They have tallied 109 runs batted in as well as 259 base knocks over the course of the season, and their average at the plate is .245. The Nationals have accounted for 44 two-baggers as a unit and have hit 31 balls out of the park. They have notched a total of 113 runs scored and hold an on-base percentage of .314. As a team, the Washington Nationals are scoring 3.5 runs per game, which puts them at 28th in the league.

The Nationals hold a team earned run average of 4.00 this year (15th in the league), and their staff has struck out 269 batters. They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.19 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.24. Nationals pitchers have allowed 47 home runs and 137 total runs (8th in MLB). Their pitching staff has walked 123 opposing players and their FIP sits at 4.83 as a squad for the season.

Nationals pitchers have come into the game with players on base 19 times and also have had 28 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have racked up 10 holds for the year (28th in baseball). The Nationals bullpen have a save percentage of 50.0% and has come into the game in 16 save situations. They have tallied 3 saves on the campaign and have blown 3 of their 6 save opportunities. The relief pitchers have inherited 30 base runners for the season and 30.0% of them ended up crossing the plate. The Nationals have dispatched 107 relief pitchers to the mound for the season.

The Washington Nationals have accumulated 838 putouts thus far, as well as 278 assists and 18 errors. Their fielding rate is at .984 which ranks 14th in MLB, and they have twisted 231 double plays. The Nationals have turned 73.9% of baseballs in play into outs out of 2,514 innings, which has them sitting 1st in professional baseball.

Scherzer has taken the mound for 2,403 innings and has earned 2,845 strikeouts during his pro baseball career. Scherzer (177-95 career record) sits with a FIP of 3.14 while facing 9,745 hitters in the majors. His ERA is 3.19 (853 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.094. He has given up 1,982 base knocks (7.4 hits per 9 innings) and has had 648 free passes.

The Diamondbacks have a team slugging percentage of .410 and they have an average of 4.86 runs per contest (6th in MLB). They have 61 two-baggers, while getting a free base 138 times and putting up 180 runs. Arizona has tallied 44 long balls for the year to go along with 166 RBIs. They have been called out on strikes on 326 occasions (12th in MLB) and have 304 base hits. The Arizona Diamondbacks have accounted for a team on-base percentage of .321 as well as a batting average of .239 for the season.

The Diamondbacks hold a team WHIP of 1.349 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.40 as a unit on the campaign. They rank 27th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 318. The Arizona pitching staff have given up 185 runs on the campaign while having a team ERA of 4.57 (164 earned runs yielded). Their K/BB ratio is 2.59 (306 strikeouts against 118 bases on balls). They have given up 49 dingers and they allow 5.15 runs per 9 innings (25th in the league).

With 30 save situations, the Diamondbacks have earned 17 holds and 8 blown saves. Arizona has had relief pitchers enter the contest in 13 save opportunities and they have tallied 5 saves. Their relievers have come in 34 times in high leverage situations and on 31 occasions with runners on base. Arizona relievers have an inherited score rate of 29.7% out of 37 inherited runners. They are currently ranked 30th in the league holding a save percentage of 38.5%, and they have sent 127 bullpen pitchers onto the field for the season.

Out of their 2,913 innings played, the Diamondbacks have a defensive efficiency of 69.0% (22nd in the majors). The Arizona Diamondbacks have turned 21 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .982 (19th in MLB). The Diamondbacks have 324 assists, 24 errors and have notched a total of 971 putouts this season.

So far in his career, Smith has surrendered 45 base hits while accumulating 30 strikeouts in 44 frames. He has surrendered 17 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.331 and a FIP of 3.6. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.14 and he has gone up against 182 batters in his MLB career. Smith (3-2 win-loss mark in his career) has a 3.45 ERA and has given up 9.1 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Washington

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