Upcoming Match-ups

Astros vs Nationals Picks and Odds (May 15)

Quinn Allen

by Quinn Allen in MLB Baseball

Updated May 14, 2022 · 7:13 PM PDT

Justin Verlander walking off mound
May 10, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) walk to his dugout at the end of the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports
  • The Astros and Nationals wrap up a three-game set on Sunday
  • Houston is a heavy -200 favorite with Justin Verlander on the mound
  • Find the Astros vs Nationals odds, preview, and best bet below

The red-hot Houston Astros will be looking to finish off their weekend on a high note as they conclude a three-game series with the Washington Nationals in DC. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:35pm ET.

Justin Verlander gets the ball on Sunday while the Nats counter with the struggling Patrick Corbin.

Astros vs Nationals Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Total
Houston Astros -200 -1.5 (-120) Ov 8 (-105)
Washington Nationals +175 +1.5 (+100) Un 8 (-115)

Odds as of May 14th at Caesars.

The Astros are a -200 favorite here and currently own the fourth-best World Series odds in the big leagues at +900.

CAESARS SPORTSBOOK


Get Your First Bet Back - Up To $1,000 On Caesars!

LOCK IN PROMO
CODE: SBD1000
CODE: SBD1000
SIGNUP BONUS
GET UP TO
$1,000 BACK

CLAIM OFFER

Astros vs Nationals Probable Pitchers

Verlander has returned to his dominant self after barely pitching since 2019 due to injuries. The future Hall of Famer is 4-1 with a terrific 1.55 ERA, striking out 36 hitters in 40.2 innings and allowing only six walks.

In his last start, Verlander took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins before Gio Urshela singled to right field.

Although Verlander has been pitching in the big leagues for 17 years now, he’s only faced the Nationals twice. The veteran owns a 2-0 record and 2.57 ERA in those two starts.

Their lineup is hitting just .215 off Verlander as well. The 39-year-old is a frontrunner in Cy Young odds too alongside Kevin Gausman at +650.

Verlander vs Corbin Stats

Justin Verlander
VS
Patrick Corbin
4-1 Record 0-5
1.55 ERA 6.06
0.64 WHIP 1.74
.150 OBA .292

Corbin, on the other hand, has been atrocious for Washington. Their staff as a whole is looking very concerning and he is a big reason for that. The lefty is 0-5 with a 6.05 ERA, surrendering 17 free passes in 32.2 innings.

However, Corbin is coming off the best start of his season, tossing five frames of scoreless baseball against a very good Mets lineup. He only allowed three hits as well.

Corbin doesn’t have a great track record vs Houston, compiling a 5.21 ERA in three outings. That being said, their current lineup has limited experience against him.

Astros Betting Outlook

Houston were riding an 11-game winning streak before Saturday’s loss, sweeping the Mariners, Tigers, and Twins. While their offense is hitting only .223 as a team, the Astros are scoring a ton of runs via the homer, cranking 43 of them. That’s fourth in the Majors.

Yordan Alvarez has 11 bombs already, going deep three times in his last three games. When it comes to Corbin, no one in the Stros lineup is hitting over .250 off him. Altuve is the most experienced bat versus the southpaw, going 2 for 9 lifetime.

Nationals Betting Outlook

Washington is in the midst of a forgettable season, going 12-23 and sitting at the bottom of the National League East. While they did manage to put some runs up on the board in Saturday’s game, the offense is struggling to produce. DC is batting .252 as a team, but they’re scoring just four runs per contest, which ranks 16th in the MLB.

It’s honestly been the pitching that has let them down. Only one starter owns an ERA under four. There’s been minimal consistency on the mound, but hopefully, Corbin can build off a solid last start and keep his team in Sunday’s game.

Astros vs Nationals Prediction

This is a no-brainer. With Verlander on the mound, there isn’t a chance the Nats win here. He’s absolutely dealing in 2022 and it will continue in the series finale. Take Houston to cover the runline.

Pick: Astros -1.5 (-120)

Author Image