Nationals vs. Athletics Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 9/1/2022

The Washington Nationals (44-86) are -119 favorites when they play the Oakland Athletics (49-82) on Thursday at 4:05 PM ET. Nelson Cruz has 98 hits on the season and will hope to hit his milestone 100th once the game begins at Nationals Park. Paolo Espino takes the mound for Washington while Ken Waldichuk is Oakland’s starter for the contest.

Nationals vs. Athletics Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Nationals vs. Athletics

After analyzing all of the key stats and trends for this matchup, our best bet is the Athletics on the moneyline at -101. Our computer prediction sees the scoring going over the total of 8 runs.

Our computer pick: Oakland Athletics (-101) and Over (8)

Nationals vs. Athletics Game Info

• Washington Nationals probable starting pitcher: Paolo Espino
• Oakland Athletics probable starting pitcher: Ken Waldichuk
• Game Day: Thursday, September 1, 2022
• Game Time: 4:05 PM ET
• Location: Washington D.C.
• Stadium: Nationals Park

Washington Nationals vs Oakland Athletics Pitching Matchup

Nationals Starter Paolo Espino

• Espino (0-6) takes the mound for the Nationals in his 15th start of the season. He’s put together a 4.35 ERA in 91 innings pitched, with 69 strikeouts.
• The right-hander last appeared on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds, when he went 5 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs while giving up seven hits.
• In 34 games this season, the 35-year-old has amassed a 4.35 ERA and 6.8 strikeouts per nine innings, while allowing a batting average of .275 to his opponents.
• Espino has not recorded a quality start yet this season.
• Espino will try to secure his seventh matchup of five or more innings pitched this season. He averages 2.2 innings per appearance.
• The opposing Athletics offense has the 29th-ranked slugging percentage (.344) and ranks 27th in MLB play with 110 home runs. It has a collective .215 batting average, and is last in MLB with 924 total hits and 29th in MLB play scoring 444 runs.

Athletics Starter Ken Waldichuk

• Waldichuk gets the nod for the Athletics and will make his first start of the season.
• This will be the first MLB start for the 24-year-old left-hander.
• The Nationals are batting .247 this season, 12th in MLB. They have a team slugging percentage of .375 (26th in the league) with 110 home runs.

Nationals Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Nationals have won eight out of the 18 games, or 44.4%, in which they’ve been favored.
• Washington is 6-8 this season when entering a game favored by -119 or more on the moneyline.
• The Nationals have a 54.3% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• Washington’s games have gone over the total in 62 of their 130 chances.
• The Nationals are 57-73-0 against the spread this season.

Athletics Betting Picks & Insights

• The Athletics have come away with 42 wins in the 112 contests they have been listed as the underdogs in this season.
• This season, Oakland has come away with a win 41 times in 111 chances when named as an underdog of at least -101 or worse on the moneyline.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Athletics have a 50.2% chance of coming away with a victory in the contest.
• Oakland and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 55 of their 131 opportunities.
• In 131 games with a line this season, the Athletics have a mark of 64-67-0 against the spread.

Nationals Leaders & Batting Stats

• Cruz paces the Nationals with 63 runs batted in.
• Of all hitters in the majors, Cruz ranks 155th in home runs and 48th in RBI.
• Cesar Hernandez is batting .245 with 26 doubles, three triples and 36 walks.
• Hernandez is 413th in home runs and 250th in RBI among all MLB hitters this season.
• Hernandez has two straight games with at least one hit. In his last five games he is hitting .211 with a double and a walk.
• Keibert Ruiz has put up a team-high batting average of .247.
• Ruiz will look to build on his six-game hitting in this game. During his last 10 outings he is hitting .273 with three doubles, three walks and two RBI.
• Lane Thomas has 19 doubles, a triple, 14 home runs and 25 walks while batting .240.

Athletics Leaders & Batting Stats

• Sean Murphy leads the Athletics with 17 home runs and 58 runs batted in, while recording a team-high batting average of .258.
• In all of the big leagues, Murphy is 57th in home runs and 65th in RBI.
• Murphy takes a hitting streak of three games into this matchup. During his last five outings he is batting .316 with a home run, three walks and five RBI.
• Seth Brown’s 17 home runs lead his team.
• Brown ranks 57th among all hitters in MLB in homers, and 97th in RBI.
• Tony Kemp is hitting .226 with 21 doubles, four home runs and 38 walks.
• Chad Pinder is hitting .234 with 16 doubles, 10 home runs and 12 walks.