Red Sox (62-56) vs Nationals (53-66)
Boston Red Sox vs Washington Nationals August 16, 2023 — Following consecutive victories in the series against Kansas City and Detroit, Boston is preparing to step onto the field again. The question remains whether their success on the road will extend to their upcoming match in the nation’s capital. The Red Sox displayed a batting average of .262 (ranking 3rd) and boasted a .760 OPS (ranking 7th), with an average of 4.84 runs scored per game. In the 2023 season, they secured the 19th position in the league for home runs, tallying 132, and steals, with 83 bases stolen. With a tally of 33 quality starts, the Boston pitching staff holds a 26th position with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.
Meanwhile, Washington has clinched victory in 10 of its last 15 games, including successful sweeps against Cincinnati and Oakland in two of their most recent encounters. The question lingers about whether they can maintain their role as spoilers in the final stages of the regular season. The Nationals occupy the 19th position in runs average, rank sixth in batting average (.260), and stand seventeenth in OPS (.720). This season, they’ve managed to secure 108 home runs (placing them at 29th) and 85 base steals (ranking 15th). Their pitching staff has accumulated 35 quality starts, though it holds the 23rd rank with a 4.88 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. \
Boston Red Sox vs Washington Nationals Game Info
Time: 7:05 PM ET.
Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Venue: Nationals Park in Washington D.C.
TV: MASN
Red Sox SP James Paxton (7-3, ERA: 3.36) and Nationals SP MacKenzie Gore (6-9, ERA: 4.62)
Taking the mound at Nationals Park for the first time, SP James Paxton is set to showcase his skills on Wednesday. In his recent performance, the towering left-handed pitcher secured a victory by holding the Royals scoreless for 5.1 innings. While he has faced a few challenges in his recent outings, he has generally been dependable, as he managed to restrict 11 out of 15 opponents to two runs or fewer.
The Nationals will send Gore on Wednesday in their encounter at Washington. This rookie southpaw is emerging from a challenging outing in Philadelphia, during which he conceded six runs from seven hits, including three home runs. Nevertheless, he exhibited better form in his preceding three appearances, effectively limiting the Giants, Mets, and Brewers to a total of five runs across 16 innings. Over the course of his career, Gore has pitched 187 innings, conceding 183 base hits while recording 206 strikeouts. The cumulative impact comprises 95 earned runs, yielding a WHIP of 1.444 and a FIP of 4.4. Having faced 810 batters during his career, he maintains a K/BB ratio of 2.37. With a career record of 10-13, Gore maintains an ERA of 4.57 and an average of 8.8 hits per nine innings.
Odds/Point Spread: Boston Red Sox -166, Total Odds: 9
MacKenzie Gore is a very unpredictable pitcher who challenges forecasts. He gave up five or more runs in his previous eleven outings, and in each of his last five starts, he has surrendered seven long balls. The Red Sox performed admirably against left-handed pitchers (.262 BA,.341 OBP,.414 SLG, and.755 OPS). Paxton, on the other side, was Boston’s rock this season. The Nationals might not be able to surprise him tomorrow, they have been playing well lately and have favorable splits versus left-handed pitchers.
Boston Red Sox Betting Trends
- Boston is 6-0 SU in their last 6 games against the Nationals.
- The Boston Red Sox are 3-6 SU in their last 9 matches on the road.
- The Red Sox are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games on the road against Washington.
- The total stayed UNDER in 7 of Boston’s last 7 games with a team in the NL.
Washington Nationals Betting Trends
- The total stayed UNDER in 4 of Washington’s last 6 games with Boston.
- The Washington Nationals are 12-3 SU in their last 15 matches at home.
- The Nationals are 0-7 SU in their last 7 games at home against Boston.
- The total remained UNDER in 7 of Washington’s last 10 games against an American League East Division opponent.
Boston Red Sox vs Washington Nationals Betting Trends
Boston Red Sox vs Washington Nationals: Boston won four of its past five games overall, while the Red Sox triumphed in their last five games and on the road against the Nationals. Last Thursday, Boston’s starting pitcher James Paxton had a terrific effort, allowing no runs on six hits over five and a third innings while striking out six. As a result, Boston defeated Kansas City 2-0. Last time out, MacKenzie Gore, the starter for Washington, took a beating, giving up six runs in five innings to suffer a 7-0 defeat.
Free Pick and Prediction: Boston Red Sox will win 6-2.
