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Nationals vs Orioles Picks and Odds – Aug 16

Jordan Horrobin

by Jordan Horrobin in MLB Baseball

Updated Mar 9, 2021 · 2:38 PM PST

Max Scherzer warming up.
Max Scherzer is likely to get the Opening Day start for the Washington Nationals against Gerrit Cole and the NY Yankees. Photo by Keith Allison {flickr).
  • Orioles All-Star John Means returns to the rotation after a 12-day absence to start opposite Nationals’ Max Scherzer on Sunday (Aug. 16th, 1:05 pm EST)
  • Baltimore had a six-game win streak snapped by a 15-3 loss against Washington on Friday
  • Check out the odds, analysis, and a pick for the game in the article below

The Beltway Series forges ahead on Sunday for its final segment, as perennial All-Star Max Scherzer matches up with one-time All-Star John Means in the Nationals vs. Orioles game on Sunday, August 16th at 1:05 pm EST.

Orioles vs Nationals Odds

Team Moneyline Runline  Total
Baltimore Orioles +216 N/A Over 8.5 (-115)
Washington Nationals -240 N/A Under 8.5 (-105)

Odds taken Aug. 15th.

About Last Night

The Orioles scored four runs in the first two innings and didn’t look back on Saturday, emerging with a 7-3 win. Now Baltimore and Washington are gunning for a series win on Sunday.

Jose Igelsias stayed hot for the Orioles with his sixth multi-hit game of the year, bumping his batting average up to the coveted .400 mark.

The Orioles have now won seven of eight games overall and four of five against the Nationals.

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Means Makes His Return

John Means will toe the rubber for the first time since August 4th, having taken some time away to mourn the death of his father. While that’s a tragic and upsetting thing, the silver lining for bettors is that Means’ absence was not injury related.

With that said, Means (0-1, 7.71 ERA) hasn’t been entirely sharp so far this season. The underlying stats suggest that could change, though, as Means has allowed six runs in two short starts — despite only yielding four hits and a walk.

Means has never faced the Nationals. But even with his poor results in the early stages of this season, he is the Orioles’ best option on the mound.

Orioles Career Stats vs Scherzer

Player AB HR RBI AVG.
Hanser Alberto 0 0 0 .000
Jose Iglesias 6 1 1 .167
Chris Davis 15 0 0 .200
Cedric Mullins 0 0 0 .000
Renato Nunez 0 0 0 .000
Pedro Severino 0 0 0 .000
Chance Sisco 5 1 1 .200
Dwight Smith Jr. 0 0 0 .000
Rio Ruiz 10 1 2 .100

Mad Max Feasts On The O’s

Max Scherzer is one of the game’s elite pitchers, so his numbers are good against most teams. And that certainly applies to the Orioles, who have struggled to muster much offense of late against Mad Max.

In his past five starts against Baltimore, Scherzer is 2-0 with a 1.53 ERA — with 50 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings. It’s tough to beat a guy pitching like that.

So far this season, Scherzer (1-1, 2.75 ERA) has retained steady, ace-like stuff through

Nationals Career Stats vs Means

Player AB HR RBI AVG.
Asdrubal Cabrera 2 0 0 .500
Starlin Castro 0 0 0 .000
Juan Soto 0 0 0 .000
Victor Robles 0 0 0 .000
Kurt Suzuki 0 0 0 .000
Trea Turner 0 0 0 .000
Howie Kendrick 0 0 0 .000
Adam Eaton 0 0 0 .000
Eric Thames 0 0 0 .000

The Juan Soto Factor

Juan Soto had a slow start to the season after receiving a positive COVID-19 test. But since his return, he has been absolutely mashing for the Nationals.

Soto homered again on Saturday, his sixth in 10 games this year. He is also batting .405, with more multi-hit games (five) than hitless games (two).

https://twitter.com/OnePursuitTakes/status/1294795434171543554?s=20

Despite Washington’s lapses as a team on Saturday, they’re in good shape on Sunday with Scherzer on the mound as evident in the MLB odds. Add in the young phenom Soto, who’s as hot as anyone in baseball right now, and this is their game to win.

Pick: Washington Nationals, -168

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