LA Dodgers vs Washington Nationals Prediction, Betting Odds, and Our Best Bet

The LA Dodgers and the Washington Nationals are finishing up their 3-game series tonight with the first pitch set for 6:50 PM. With the Nationals leading the series 2-0, this is a big spot for the Dodgers to avoid a sweep. Given how hot of a start the Dodgers kicked the season off with, we’re surprised to see the Nats come out swinging.

Despite how this road trip is going, we think the Dodgers just may have an edge coming into tonight’s matchup.

Breaking Down the Odds

The odds for this game show the Dodgers as heavy favorites on the moneyline at -190 and the Nationals as underdogs at +150. After dropping the first 2 of the series, we were surprised to see the odds tilt this much, but then again, when you look at who’s on the bump, it starts to make sense.

The run line has the Dodgers at -1.5 with +110 odds, and the Nationals at +1.5 with -130. The over/under for total runs is set at a whopping 9, with the over at -112 and the under at -108. With the first 2 games hitting the over, it’s no surprise they set this bar so high.

The books are clearly favoring the Dodgers to get back on track, but with the Nationals winning the first 2 games and coming into tonight with some strong momentum, this could be closer than the odds suggest.

Analyzing the Matchup

The Dodgers are 7-3 this season, but they’ve dropped the first 2 games of this series, falling 4-6 on Monday and 2-8 on Tuesday.

Their offense has been strong overall, averaging 4.8 runs per game, which ranks 9th in the league. Tommy Edman leads the team with 5 dingers and 9 RBIs, while Mookie Betts is hitting a solid .316.

On the mound, Landon Knack gets the start for LA. He’s been perfect so far at 1-0 with a perfect 0.00 ERA over 20 innings, striking out 14 and allowing just 3 walks. That’s a great sign for the Dodgers, especially since Knack hasn’t given up a single home run this year.

The Nationals, sitting at 5-6, have been a nice surprise in this series. They’ve won 4 of their last 5 games, including back-to-back wins over the Dodgers. Their offense is averaging 4.4 runs per game which is good for 15th in the league, and they’re hitting 1.4 home runs per game, which puts them in 7th.

James Wood has been a powerhouse at the plate, leading the team with 4 home runs and 10 RBIs, while Keibert Ruiz is batting an insane .343.

Jake Irvin takes the bump for Washington, coming in with a 0-0 record and a 5.40 ERA. He is still struggling to find any consistency compared to Knack. Irvin has struck out 14 in 10 innings, but he’s given up 3 home runs, which could be a problem against LA’s power bats in the middle of their lineup.

A few trends stand out as they head into tonight. The Nationals have won 7 of their last 8 games as home underdogs after playing the previous day, which is a good sign for them. 

On the other hand, Teoscar Hernandez has at least one hit in each of his last 9 road games against the Nats, so he just might be a key factor for LA — good for a solid prop bet.

The Dodgers need to snap out of their funk, but Washington has the momentum after taking the first 2 games of this series and sometimes that’s hard to ignore.

Our Prediction and Best Pick

Despite how they’ve conducted themselves on Monday and Tuesday, the Dodgers are going to win this game, and we’re taking them at -110 on the run line. The odds aren’t great, but they are much better than -190 on the moneyline.

Landon Knack has been lights out with a 0.00 ERA, and he’s facing a Nationals offense that’s been solid but not exactly elite. Knack’s ability to limit home runs and keep runners off base with a 0.50 WHIP gives LA a big edge on the mound. The Dodgers’ offense, led by Shohei Ohtani, Tommy Edman, and Mookie Betts, should be able to get some power off of Jake Irvin, who’s struggled with a 5.40 ERA and has given up 3 home runs in just 10 innings.

As for the Dodgers, they are simply too good to get swept in this series. They’ve got a better ERA and a stronger pitching staff overall, and their offense is capable of breaking out after scoring just 6 runs over the first 2 games. The Nationals have been hot, but their 4.45 ERA and struggles against opposing batters make them a bit vulnerable.

Washington’s trend of winning as home underdogs is nice, but we think the Dodgers’ talent takes over here.

• HelloRookie’s Prediction: Dodgers 5, Nationals 2
• Best Bet: Dodgers -1.5 at -110.

The Dodgers are desperate to avoid a sweep, and we totally expect them to come out swinging. Teoscar Hernandez has been a consistent threat against the Nationals, and he could easily spark the offense. The Nationals will keep it competitive, but LA’s pitching and timely hitting will get the job done. Take the Dodgers by a couple of runs at -110.