Washington Nationals vs New York Yankees Predictions, Betting Odds & Picks

• Scherzer trying to keep Nationals afloat
• Kluber, Yankees start rolling simultaneously
• X-factor to watch on both sides

Washington Nationals vs New York Yankees Odds

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Washington Nationals vs New York Yankees Predictions and Picks

It’s not wise to bet against the Nationals when Scherzer is on the mound — their win percentage in games he’s pitched throughout his career is better than .650. But the Yankees have one of baseball’s best lineups and Kluber has been good in his own right.

This one is likely going to come down to the bullpen, where the Yankees have the advantage. We like the Yankees money line in this one.

Pick:

Yankees to win (-121)

Garcia’s 2021 record: (18-10-1)

How to watch Washington Nationals vs New York Yankees

Max Scherzer Trying to Keep Nationals Afloat

The Nationals are a winning team when Max Scherzer is on the mound. Washington is 4-2 in games he’s started and that’s even with the fact they’ve scored one run or fewer in three of the six games.

They aren’t a winning team when he’s not on the mound — going 9-13 in the other 22 contests this year.

After an uncharacteristic 2020 season, Scherzer has gotten back to form through the season’s first month-plus in 2021. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has a 2.54 ERA with a 0.85 WHIP. That’s not to mention he’s coming off of his best start of the year: Scherzer went the distance against Miami last weekend, pitching nine innings of one-run ball, surrendering just five hits while not issuing a single walk and striking out nine.

But he can’t do it alone. That’s why the Nationals have lost three of four and recently got swept by the rival Atlanta Braves.

The Nationals are hoping things will soon turn around offensively now that Juan Soto is slowly working his way back, though the 22-year-old superstar is having a bit of a slower season compared to 2020.

Soto is now batting .283 with a .825 OPS but last night was his first full game back and he had a great night, going 2-of-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Trea Turner, Josh Harrison, and Starlin Castro have been the ones carrying the weight offensively for the majority of the season.

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Yankees Rolling as Kluber Seems to Have Found His Form

The Yankees, once thought to be lost this season, have suddenly started streaking — last night’s lopsided 11-4 loss notwithstanding–  as winners of seven of ten and during that stretch Corey Kluber has been dominant.

After losing three of Kluber’s first four starts, the Yankees have won two in a row, both in impressive fashion. The former Cy Young Award winner threw eight innings of two-hiti ball against Detroit his last time out, striking out 10 and walking just one.

He’s now 2-2 on the year with a 3.03 ERA and 1.35 WHIP.  But it’s more than just the pitching staff leading New York to this hot stretch, batters like Giancarlo Stanton are starting to mash again as well.

In the last week, Stanton is hitting an other-worldly .571 (12-of-21) with .609 OPS — three doubles, three home runs and eight RBIs. Aaron Hicks is hitting .450 in that same stretch, Gio Urshela is batting .389 and Aaron Judge — while his batting average is low — has two home runs and eight RBIs.

But if New York is going to make a deep run in October this year, much of it is going to depend on the pitching staff. Kluber will play a large role in that.

X-Factors to Watch on Both Sides

The Yankees need their star second baseman to get going and after he was the best offensive player in New York’s lineup yesterday, there’s optimism he’s getting going.

DJ LeMahieu went 3-for-4 with two home runs and two RBIs on Friday and has raised his average 33 points since April 26th. LeMahieu had just one home run prior to yesterday and if he can get going — with the way Judge and Stanton are going — once Voit comes back, this lineup looks more fearsome than it does right now.

For Washington, Trea Turner is still the guy to watch. He’s been cold of late, going 2-for-15 in the past three games as his batting average has dropped 25 points during that time.

He also has just one extra-base hit in the last seven contests but has been one of the best bats in the National League in recent years, so don’t be surprised if he breaks out soon — maybe even today.