Astros Looking to Stay Hot Against Nationals
The Washington Nationals are set to host the Houston Astros on Friday night and this will be a solid MLB betting opportunity. This is the first meeting between the teams since the 2019 World Series which was won by Washington.
Houston comes into this game with an overall record of 21-11, and they are 12-7 on the road to begin the year. The Astros have also rattled off 10 straight wins and are playing their best baseball of the year.
Washington is just 2-3 in their last five games, and the Nationals are not likely to be a playoff contender this season. This team is just 11-22 on the year, and they are just 4-13 in their home ballpark.
The MLB lines for this game have the Houston Astros as the moneyline betting favorites at -155 against the Washington Nationals.
Let’s check the latest MLB picks, stats, injury reports, and MLB odds for Astros vs Nationals. We’ve plenty of MLB predictions.
Pitching Powering the Astros
The Houston Astros have been doing everything well during this winning streak, but it has been the starting pitching that has carried them. Manager Dusty Baker recently said, “I can’t take anything away from our pitchers. They’re pitching great.”
The Astros have recorded five shutouts during this 10-game winning streak, and they have allowed just 10 total runs. Framber Valdez (1-2, 3.34 ERA) will try to keep the streak going as he takes the mound on Friday night.
Not only have the Astros been pitching the ball well, but the offense has been clicking on all cylinders. Houston still has a team batting average of just .224, but they have belted 40 home runs on the year.
Nationals Need More Offense
The Washington Nationals have been a tough team to figure out on offense because some of the numbers look pretty good. Washington is hitting .252 as a team, but they haven’t been able to come through with a big hit when needed.
Juan Soto and Josh Bell continue to torment opposing pitchers, and they are good enough to take over a game at the plate. Soto leads the team with eight home runs and Bell has a .345 average to go along with 21 RBIs.
Josiah Gray will make the start for the Nationals on Friday night and he is 4-2 with a 3.45 ERA to begin the year. Washington has a team ERA of 4.77 this season, and they will need a great start from Gray to give the bullpen a break.
Astros vs Nationals Head-to-Head
This is the first meeting between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals since the 2019 World Series. Washington won that series in seven games to win the title, and they did so as an underdog.
Looking at the latest scores and odds in a matchup can help with betting, but the Astros and Nationals are much different than they were in 2019.
Astros vs Nationals Game Information
- Game: Astros (21-11) vs Nationals (11-22)
- Location: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
- Day/Time: Friday, May 13th, 7:05 p.m. ET
- Astros vs Nationals Streaming: MLB.tv
Astros vs Nationals Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| Houston Astros F. Valdez -L | -1½ +EV | -150 | 8-115o | 4½-110o / 4½-120u |
| Washington Nationals J. Gray -R | +1½ -1120 | +135 | 8-105u | 3½Evo / 3½-130u |
Astros vs Nationals Prediction
Making MLB picks can be difficult, especially as this is a game in which strange things can happen. Don’t overthink this betting opportunity too much though as Houston is clearly the better overall team.
Houston is getting dominant starting pitching, and the offense is sharp as well. The Nationals don’t have the offense to keep up, and the pitching will once again let them down.
The long winning streak will end for Houston at some point, but it’s not going to happen on Friday night. Head to BetUS Sportsbook and take the Houston Astros -1 ½ as they win the series opener and get revenge on the Washington Nationals.
