Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 5/15/2022 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals

Date: Sunday, May 15, 2022

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: MASN

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-200) Washington (+170)

The Houston Astros (22-11) are on their way to Nationals Park on Sunday where they will take on the Washington Nationals (11-23). The moneyline on this contest has Houston at -200 while Washington is at +170. The over/under is 8. The pitchers who are expected to start will be Justin Verlander and Patrick Corbin.

As a squad, the Houston Astros are scoring 4.2 runs per game, which ranks them 15th in MLB. They have 137 runs and have an on-base percentage of .305. The Astros have accrued 53 doubles as a team and have knocked 43 baseballs out of the park. They have accumulated 134 runs batted in in addition to 243 hits on the campaign, and their team batting average is sitting at .223. Houston is slugging .396 and have struck out 265 times, while taking a walk on 125 occasions.

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Astros pitchers have surrendered 23 long balls in addition to 98 total runs (3rd in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 89 players from the other team and their FIP comes in at 3.44 as a team this season. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.98 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.09. The Astros have a team ERA of 2.68 so far this season (1st in baseball), and they have struck out 265 hitters.

The Astros bullpen have earned a save rate of 72.7% and stepped onto the hill in 30 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 34 runners this season with 29.4% of those players earned a run for their team. Astros relief pitchers have gone to the mound with players on base 23 times in addition to having 33 appearances in high leverage situations. The Astros have sent 106 relievers to the mound on the season. The relievers have earned 19 holds this year (13th in the league). They have 8 saves so far this season and have blown 3 of their 11 chances to get a save.

The Houston Astros have accounted for 877 putouts thus far, as well as 273 assists and 12 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .990 which has them sitting 3rd in MLB, and they have twisted 29 double plays. The Astros have turned 72.8% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 2,631 innings, which ranks them 3rd in pro baseball.

Verlander has pitched in 3,028 innings and has racked up 3,049 strikeouts so far in his MLB career. His ERA is 3.30 (1,112 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.128. He has surrendered 2,558 base hits (7.6 hits per 9 innings) with 857 free passes. Verlander (230-130 win-loss mark in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 3.41 while he has gone up against 12,356 opposing hitters in the major leagues.

The Washington Nationals hold a team on-base percentage of .315 in addition to a batting average of .252 on the campaign. They have struck out on 250 occasions (25th in MLB) and have accounted for 286 base knocks. Washington has 24 long balls for the year and 131 runs batted in. The Nationals hold a team slugging % of .365 and they average 4.03 runs per outing (17th in the league). They have 54 two-baggers, while taking a walk 98 times and racking up 137 runs.

The Nationals hold a team WHIP of 1.433 in addition to having a FIP of 4.29 as a squad this season. They rank 28th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 292. The Washington pitching staff have surrendered 172 runs this year and come in with a team ERA of 4.81 (159 earned runs surrendered). Their K/BB ratio is 2.04 (274 strikeouts vs 134 walks). They have yielded 33 long balls and they give up 5.21 runs per 9 innings (27th in MLB).

With 19 save situations, the Nationals have earned 13 holds and also 3 blown saves. Washington has had bullpen pitchers enter the contest in 6 save opportunities and they have walked away with 3 saves. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 21 times in high leverage situations and also on 40 occasions with runners on base. Washington bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 36.8% out of their 76 inherited base runners. They are currently ranked 29th in MLB with a save rate of 50.0%, and they have sent 133 relievers to the hill this year.

In their 2,679 innings played, the Nationals hold a defensive efficiency of 67.7% (27th in baseball). The Washington Nationals have gotten 22 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .979 (26th in pro baseball). The Nationals have accrued 307 assists, 26 errors and have notched a total of 893 putouts so far this season.

Corbin (81-89 record in his career) is the owner of a 4.13 ERA and has allowed 9.1 hits per 9 innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.14 and he has faced 6,035 opposing hitters thus far in his career. He has given up a total of 651 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.316 and a FIP of 3.9. So far in his career, Corbin has surrendered 1,430 hits and he has 1,369 punch outs in 1,417 innings pitched.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Houston (-200)

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