9:45 pm
July 9

Nationals @ Giants

Who will WIN this matchup?

Washington Nationals (42-44)

@ San Francisco Giants (54-32)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Espino (WSH): 2-2; 2.48 ERA

Webb (SF) 4-3; 3.86 ERA

 

Current odds:

Washington Nationals: (+135)

San Francisco Giants: (-145)

 

• The Giants (54-32) begin the series dueling the Los Angeles Dodgers (54-34) and Milwaukee Brewers (53-36) for the distinction of being the National League’s winningest team. A sweep of the Nationals would assure San Francisco of having the best record in the NL at the All-Star break.

• The Nationals (42-44), meanwhile, need a sweep to wrap up the half with a winning record. If they pull it off, they could vault over the Philadelphia Phillies (42-43) and Atlanta Braves (42-44) into second place in the NL East. The Giants will take the field with an advantage in both momentum and energy. They had Thursday off following a 5-2 home win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

• Neither of Friday’s scheduled starters — San Francisco’s Logan Webb (4-3, 3.86 ERA) and Washington’s Paolo Espino (2-2, 2.48) — started in that series. However, Espino did come on in the first inning of the 1-0 loss in relief of injured Max Scherzer and allowed the only run of the game in his 3 1/3 innings. The 34-year-old struck out five, walked none and allowed just three hits, including a Buster Posey home run. Espino has faced the Giants just one other time in his career, and he will take the mound with a 0-1 record and a 4.91 ERA against them.

• Webb is expected to be activated off the injured list to make his start. He aggravated a strained right shoulder in a May 29 outing against the Dodgers and has been sidelined since. The 24-year-old was last seen pitching the best ball of his career, having limited the Texas Rangers, Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles to a total of two earned runs and 10 hits in 17 innings in his past three starts.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
San Francisco Giants
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