Milwaukee Brewers vs Washington Nationals Picks & Odds – Best Bets for NL Wild Card Game
- The Washington Nationals play host to the Milwaukee Brewers in Tuesday’s National League Wild Card game
- Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer will start for Washington
- Read below for a game preview and our prediction to advance
The Washington Nationals stumbled out of the gate. The Milwaukee Brewers fumbled at the finish line.
Both teams, though, survived to face each other Tuesday in the National League Wild Card game.
It’s the sixth time in eight years that the Nationals have qualified for postseason play. They missed out last season for the first time since 2013. But it’s the first occasion that Washington has reached the playoffs as a Wild Card team.
The Brewers are back in the playoffs for the second straight season. Last year, as NL Central Division champions, Milwaukee reached Game 7 of the NL Championship Series before falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Nationals and Brewers are each listed at +650 in the NL Pennant odds.
Milwaukee Brewers vs Washington Nationals Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers | +610 | +1.5 (-140) | Over 8 (+100) |
| Washington Nationals | -170 | -1.5 (+120) | Under 8 (-120) |
*Odds taken 09/29/19.
Washington is at +1500 and Milwaukee at +1700 in the World Series odds.
Washington Bounces Back Big Time
The Nationals opened the season at a dreadful 19-31. The MLB playoffs seemed about as likely to arrive in the nation’s capital as a day without a Donald Trump scandal.
And now … WE DANCE! pic.twitter.com/RJAxlnxYiR
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 29, 2019
But then the Nats went on a 74-38 run the remainder of the season to post the best record in the NL over that span.
Nationals Go to the Max
Washington manager Dave Martinez confirmed three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer as his starting pitcher for Tuesday’s game. Scherzer stuggled with a sore back through July and August. He’ll be pitching Tuesday on a full week’s rest.
Max Scherzer will start the NL Wild Card game on Tuesday.
Dave Martinez just made it official. Both Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin are expected to be available out of the bullpen
— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) September 27, 2019
Scherzer posted a 5.16 earned-run average in September. Perhaps that’s one reason why Martinez also announced it would be an all-hands-on-deck approach to his pitching staff for this win-or-go-home game. Both of Washington’s other two ace starters, Patrick Corbin and Steven Strasburg, will be available out of the bullpen.
Washington’s bullpen ERA of 5.73 is the second-worst in baseball. Set-up man Daniel Hudson and closer Sean Doolittle are the only reliable arms in the Nats’ pen. Ideally, Washington would like to go Scherzer-Hudson-Doolittle but will be ready for any scenario required to get the job done.
Bungling Brewers Banged Up
Last season, Milwaukee staged an epic September charge to win the NL Central. The stage was set for an instant replay but the Brewers stubbed their toes when the opportunity presented itself.
The St. Louis Cardinals dropped consecutive games to the Chicago Cubs, opening the door for Milwaukee. But the Brew Crew lost consecutive games to the Colorado Rockies. Saturday, Milwaukee was one out away from a win that would have tied the Brewers for the division lead. But the bullpen surrendered solo homers in the ninth and 10th innings of a 3-2 loss.
On top of that, outfielder Lorenzo Cain re-injured an already wonky left ankle in a home-plate collision. Outfielder Ryan Braun (calf strain) is also ailing. NL batting champ Christian Yelich is done for the season with a broken kneecap.
The Brewers will send right-hander Brandon Woodruff (11-3) to the mound.
Nats Are on Fire
Washington’s playoff history is one of failure but there’s reason to believe that this team is different.
The @Nationals have clinched an NL Wild Card spot!
Washington is the 9th team in MLB history to reach the postseason after being 12 or more games below .500. pic.twitter.com/A70kV8LaBe
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 25, 2019
The Nats lead the NL in runs (423), on-base percentage (.357) and stolen bases (60) since the All-Star break. Juan Soto (19), Anthony Rendon (14) and Trea Turner (12) have combined for 45 homers in that span.
Pick: Washington Nationals (-170).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
