Guardians vs. Nationals Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Saturday, April 15, 2023

April 15, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

The Washington Nationals (4-10) will try to end their three-game losing streak when they host the Cleveland Guardians (8-6) on Saturday at 4:05 PM ET on MASN. Bookmakers consider the Guardians to be -179 favorites for the contest, while the Nationals are +152 underdogs looking for the upset.

Cleveland’s Zach Plesac and Washington’s Chad Kuhl have been named the starters for this contest.

Guardians vs. Nationals Odds

Guardians odds to win: -179
Nationals odds to win: +152
Spread: Guardians -1.5
Total: 9.5 runs

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Game Time and Information

Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023
Time: 4:05 PM ET
TV: MASN

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Who Will Win Guardians vs. Nationals?

Guardians and Nationals Betting Trends

The Guardians have won 57.1% of the games this season when they were the moneyline favorite (4-3).

Cleveland has played as moneyline favorites of -179 or shorter in just one game this season, which it lost.

This season, the Nationals have been the underdog 14 times and won four, or 28.6%, of those games.

Washington is 2-5 this season when entering a game as the underdog by +152 or more on the moneyline.

In the 14 games in which oddsmakers have set an over/under for the Guardians, they have combined with opponents to go over the total seven times (7-6-1).

Games involving the Nationals have gone over the total set by bookmakers in six of 14 chances this season.

Guardians Stats & Insights

The Guardians are the 17th-highest scoring team in MLB action averaging 4.4 runs per game (62 total).

Cleveland has hit seven home runs this season, the second-lowest total in baseball.

The Guardians have the 24th-ranked batting average in the majors (.233).

Cleveland strikes out 7.6 times per game to rank sixth in baseball.

The 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings put together by the Guardians pitching staff ranks 24th in the majors.

Cleveland has a 4.08 team ERA that ranks 11th across all MLB pitching staffs.

Nationals Stats & Insights

The Nationals have scored 51 runs (just 3.6 per game) this season, which ranks 27th in MLB.

Washington ranks last in Major League Baseball with just six home runs as a team.

The Nationals have a team batting average of .250 this season, which ranks 14th among MLB teams.

Washington is the best at avoiding strikeouts in MLB this season with only 94 as a team.

The Nationals strike out just 7.1 batters per nine innings as a pitching staff, which ranks 29th in MLB.

Washington pitchers have a combined ERA of 4.80 ERA this year, which ranks 21st in MLB.

Guardians Key Players to Watch

Plesac (0-0) gets the starting nod for the Guardians, his third this season.

Jose Ramirez leads Cleveland with a .315 batting average.

Steven Kwan has collected 15 hits this season and has an OBP of .380. He’s slugging .333 on the year.

Andres Gimenez has collected 16 base hits, an OBP of .371 and a slugging percentage of .436 this season.

Myles Straw has 12 hits and an OBP of .415 to go with a slugging percentage of .326 this season.

Nationals Key Players to Watch

Kuhl will take to the mound for the Nationals, his third start of the season.

Alex Call has accumulated a team-best nine runs batted in.

Victor Robles has a club-best .326 batting average.

Lane Thomas is hitting .315 with two doubles and four walks.

Jeimer Candelario’s two home runs lead his team.

Guardians and Nationals Injuries

Guardians: Aaron Civale: 15 Day IL (Oblique), Sam Hentges: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Triston McKenzie: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Cody Morris: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)

Nationals: Ildemaro Vargas: 10 Day IL (Shoulder), Corey Dickerson: 10 Day IL (Calf), Israel Pineda: 10 Day IL (Finger), Carter Kieboom: 10 Day IL (Finger), Stephen Strasburg: 60 Day IL (Ribs/shoulder), Tanner Rainey: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Cade Cavalli: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Victor Arano: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)