Phillies vs. Nationals Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 6/18/2022

The Philadelphia Phillies (35-31) will look to Matt Vierling, who is coming off a two-homer game, to lead them in a matchup with the Washington Nationals (23-45) Saturday at 4:35 PM ET on MASN. The Phillies are -211 favorites for the contest, according to sportsbooks. Aaron Nola starts for Philadelphia while Josiah Gray is Washington’s starter for the contest.

Phillies vs. Nationals Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Phillies vs. Nationals

Our computer pick: Washington Nationals (+177) and Over (8.5)

Phillies vs. Nationals Game Info

• Philadelphia Phillies probable starting pitcher: Aaron Nola
• Washington Nationals probable starting pitcher: Josiah Gray
• Game Day: Saturday, June 18, 2022
• Game Time: 4:35 PM ET
• TV Channel: MASN
• Location: Washington D.C.
• Stadium: Nationals Park

Philadelphia Phillies vs Washington Nationals Pitching Matchup

Phillies Starter Aaron Nola

• The Phillies are sending Nola (4-4) to the mound for his 14th start of the season. He is 4-4 with a 3.42 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 81 2/3 innings pitched.
• The right-hander last appeared on Monday against the Miami Marlins, when he threw 7 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs while giving up six hits.
• In 13 games this season, the 29-year-old has a 3.42 ERA and 10 strikeouts per nine innings, while giving up a batting average of .207 to his opponents.
• Nola is trying to build upon a second-game quality start streak in this matchup.
• Nola is seeking his 12th straight outing lasting five or more innings. He averages 6.1 frames per appearance on the mound.
• He will face a Nationals offense that ranks 16th in the league with 279 runs while batting .253 as a unit. It has a collective .379 slugging percentage (21st in MLB action) and has hit a total of 55 home runs (23rd in MLB).
• Among pitchers who qualify in MLB play this season, the 29-year-old ranks 35th in ERA (3.42), fourth in WHIP (.882), and eighth in K/9 (10).

Nationals Starter Josiah Gray

• The Nationals will hand the ball to Gray (6-4) for his 13th start of the season.
• The right-hander last pitched on Wednesday, June 8, when he allowed six hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins.
• The 24-year-old has pitched in 12 games this season with an ERA of 4.33 and 10 strikeouts per nine innings, with an opponent batting average of .230.
• He has started 12 games this season, earning a quality start (6 or more IP, 3 or fewer ER) in three of them.
• Gray has three starts in a row of five innings or more.
• The Phillies rank second in MLB with 327 runs scored this season. They have a .252 batting average this campaign with 86 home runs (third in the league).

Phillies Betting Picks & Insights

• The Phillies have won 25, or 59.5%, of the 42 games they’ve played as favorites this season.
• Philadelphia has a record of 2-1 in games where bookmakers favor them by at least -211 on the moneyline.
• The sportsbooks’ moneyline implies a 67.8% chance of a victory for the Phillies.
• Philadelphia and its opponents have hit the over in 38 of their 66 games with a total this season.
• The Phillies are 35-31-0 against the spread this season.

Nationals Betting Picks & Insights

• The Nationals have come away with 18 wins in the 58 contests they have been listed as the underdogs in this season.
• Washington has a mark of 4-8 in contests where sportsbooks favor them by +177 or worse on the moneyline.
• The Nationals have an implied victory probability of 36.1% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
• Contests with Washington have gone over the total set by oddsmakers in 37 of 68 chances this season.
• In 68 games with a line this season, the Nationals have a mark of 27-41-0 against the spread.

Phillies Leaders & Batting Stats

• Bryce Harper has racked up a team-best batting average of .326 while leading the Phillies in runs batted in (48).
• In all of the majors, Harper is 16th in homers and seventh in RBI.
• Harper has collected a hit in six straight games. In his last 10 outings he is batting .441 with two doubles, a home run, seven walks and four RBI.
• Kyle Schwarber’s 18 home runs are a team-high mark.
• Schwarber is fourth in homers in MLB, and 27th in RBI.
• Schwarber heads into this game looking for his fourth game in a row with a hit. During his last five outings he is hitting .250 with a double, two home runs, eight walks and three RBI.
• Rhys Hoskins is hitting .249 with 12 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 30 walks.
• Nicholas Castellanos has 17 doubles, seven home runs and 20 walks while batting .261.
• Castellanos is riding a three-game hitting streak into this one. In his last five games he is hitting .333 with three doubles, two walks and five RBI.

Nationals Leaders & Batting Stats

• The Nationals are lead in runs batted in by Josh Bell with a mark of 44, he also leads the team in hitting, posting an average of .303.
• Among all batters in the majors, Bell ranks 38th in homers and 11th in RBI.
• Bell carries a three-game hitting streak into this matchup. In his last five games he is hitting .294 with four home runs, four walks and six RBI.
• Juan Soto has put his power on display as he paces his team with 13 home runs.
• Soto is 20th overall in home runs and 86th in RBI this season.
• Nelson Cruz is batting .254 with 10 doubles, seven home runs and 28 walks.
• Cesar Hernandez is batting .271 with 14 doubles, two triples and 17 walks.

Betting Tips for Phillies vs. Nationals

We have the Nationals on the moneyline at +177 on the moneyline as our best bet in this game after taking a look at all of the key stats and trends for this matchup. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 8.5 runs.