Baseball Predictions – Go With the Nats on Sunday

MLB betting action at BetOnline Sportsbook continues on Sunday afternoon with a duel from our nation’s capitol, as the Washington Nationals square off with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This will be the final game of a three game series that starts on Friday night and wraps up a 10-game home stand for the hosts.

The Dodgers will be concluding the final game of the second of three series on the East Coast that will end with a trip to Citi Field starting on Monday.

The Nats enter this weekend’s series hovering right around that coveted .500 mark that they would love to be able to break for the season.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Washington Nationals

Game Date/Time: Sunday, April 25th, 1:35 ET

Game Location: Nationals Park, Washington, DC

TV/Radio Broadcast: K-Cal, WDCW, XM

In a season where the Los Angeles Dodgers have uncharacteristically struggled with their pitching, RHP Chad Billingsley will take the bump on Sunday afternoon.

The right-hander was a Cy Young candidate once upon a time in the National League, but since going 16-10 in 2008 with a 3.14 ERA, his numbers have rapidly declined.

Billingsley is 1-0 this year, but he’s been awful in his L/2 starts. The Dodgers took him off the hook of his last outing against the Reds at the Great American Ballpark after he gave up seven runs (four earned) in just three innings of work. That outing came on the heels of giving up eight hits, three walks, and six runs at home against Arizona back on April 14th.

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All told, the righty has a 7.07 ERA and a 1.93 WHIP. Opposing batters are hitting .351 against him in his three starts.

The Nats haven’t caused him any heartache, though. Billingsley is a perfect 3-0 in four starts versus Washington with a 3.04 ERA. The one no-decision was his one appearance at Nationals Park where he allowed three runs on just one hit and struck out nine overall.

Washington is more used to the idea of struggling with its pitching, and LHP Scott Olsen hasn’t helped those matters any this year in his two starts.

Olsen is 0-1 with an 11.74 ERA. If not for how poorly RHP Jason Marquis has thrown this year, Olsen would be considered the biggest disappointment on this pitching staff.

He allowed six earned runs in just two innings of work on Tuesday night against the Rockies, a game in which Washington Nationals lost 10-4.

Olsen is 0-3 lifetime in three career outings against the Dodgers with a 7.30 ERA. In eight starts all-time in this ballpark, one which is predominantly known for being a pitcher’s park, Olsen has an ERA a shade over 6.02 and a WHIP of 1.55.

MLB Insider Tip : The Nationals were destroyed in the season series last year by Los Angeles four games to one, with the one win coming at Chavez Ravine.

This could be the night that everything gets better for the Nats’ southpaw. Going up against Billingsley shouldn’t be overly challenging unless the right-hander changes his tune.

If you’re looking to boost your bankroll with MLB betting, go with the Nats on Sunday.

My MLB Prediction: Washington Nationals (Olsen)