Astros vs. Nationals Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 5/15/2022

The Houston Astros (22-12) visit the Washington Nationals (12-23) Sunday to close out a three-game series. The Astros are favored (-202) to win the rubber match, which starts at 1:35 PM ET from Nationals Park. Justin Verlander will get the ball for Houston while Washington counter with Patrick Corbin.

Astros vs. Nationals Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Nationals

Our computer pick: Washington Nationals (+170) and Over (8)

Astros vs. Nationals Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Justin Verlander
• Washington Nationals probable starting pitcher: Patrick Corbin
• Game Day: Sunday, May 15, 2022
• Game Time: 1:35 PM ET
• Location: Washington D.C.
• Stadium: Nationals Park

Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Justin Verlander

• Verlander makes the start for the Astros, his seventh of the season. He is 4-1 with a 1.55 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings pitched.
• His last time out came on Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins, when the righty threw eight scoreless innings while giving up just one hit.
• The 39-year-old has an ERA of 1.55, with 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings, in six games this season. Opposing hitters have a .150 batting average against him.
• Verlander is looking to notch his sixth quality start in a row in this matchup.
• Verlander will try to go five or more innings for his seventh straight start. He’s averaging 6.2 innings per outing.
• He meets a Nationals offense that ranks 11th in the league with 150 runs while batting .254 as a squad. It has a collective .370 slugging percentage (17th in MLB action) and has hit a total of 26 home runs (24th in MLB).
• Among qualifying pitchers in MLB play this season, the 39-year-old ranks fourth in ERA (1.55), first in WHIP (.639), and 30th in K/9 (8.0).

Nationals Starter Patrick Corbin

• The Nationals’ Corbin (0-5) will make his eighth start of the season.
• The left-hander allowed three hits in five scoreless innings pitched against the New York Mets on Tuesday.
• The 32-year-old has an ERA of 6.06 and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings with an opponent batting average of .292 in seven games this season.
• In seven starts this season, he’s earned two quality starts.
• Corbin has pitched five or more innings in three straight games and will look to extend that streak.
• The Astros are batting .226 this season, 24th in MLB. They have a team slugging percentage of .400 (eighth in the league) with 44 home runs.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• The Astros have won 19, or 73.1%, of the 26 games they’ve played as favorites this season.
• Houston has played as a favorite of -202 or more twice this season and won both games.
• Sportsbooks have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Astros have a 66.9% chance to win.
• So far this season, Houston and its opponents have hit the over in 10 of their 34 games with a total.
• The Astros are 18-16-0 against the spread this season.

Nationals Betting Picks & Insights

• The Nationals have been underdogs in 30 games this season and have come away with the win 10 times (33.3%) in those contests.
• Washington has a win-loss record of 3-2 when favored by +170 or worse by bookmakers this year.
• The Nationals have an implied victory probability of 37% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
• Washington’s games have gone over the total in 16 of their 35 opportunities.
• The Nationals are 14-21-0 against the spread in their 35 games with a line set by sportsbooks this season.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Yordan Alvarez paces the Astros with 11 home runs and 21 runs batted in.
• Alvarez’s home runs put him second in the majors, and he ranks 22nd in RBI.
• Alex Bregman’s 21 runs batted in pace his team.
• Bregman ranks 41st in homers in MLB, and 22nd in RBI.
• Kyle Tucker is hitting .254 with six doubles, five home runs and 20 walks.
• Jeremy Pena is batting .276 with five doubles, a triple, six home runs and nine walks.
• Pena is riding a nine-game hitting streak into this one. During his last 10 outings he is batting .394 with two doubles, two home runs, two walks and 10 RBI.

Nationals Leaders & Batting Stats

• Juan Soto has put up a team-high eight home runs.
• Among all hitters in the big leagues, Soto ranks 12th in homers and 139th in RBI.
• Soto carries a seven-game hitting streak into this matchup. In his last 10 games he is hitting .289 with three doubles, three home runs, seven walks and five RBI.
• Josh Bell’s 21 runs batted in and .336 batting average both lead his team.
• Bell is currently 60th in home runs and 22nd in RBI in the big leagues.
• Maikel Franco paces the Nationals with 21 runs batted in.
• Nelson Cruz is hitting .200 with a double, four home runs and 15 walks.

Betting Tips for Astros vs. Nationals

After digging through all of the key trends and stats for this matchup, our best bet is the Nationals on the moneyline at +170. Our computer prediction sees the scoring going over the total of 8 runs.