Jake Irvin will get the start for the Nationals (44-62, 20-33 home) as they host the Brewers (57-49, 28-25 away) at Nationals Park. The Brewers will give the starting nod to Corbin Burnes. Check out my prediction for game one of this National League matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS VS WASHINGTON NATIONALS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Washington Nationals +1.5 Runs

This game will be played at Nationals Park at 7:05 ET on Monday, July 31st.

WHY BET THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS:

  • The Brewers have gone just 1-4 in their last five games vs. the runline.
  • Milwaukee have failed to cover the runline in three straight road games.
  • The Nationals are 2-1 in Jake Irvin’s last five starts.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS STRUGGLING VS RUNLINE OF LATE

For the season, the Brewers have put together a record of 57-49 and are 2nd in the NL Central, putting them 0.5 games out of first place. Milwaukee’s overall series record sits at 18-14-1. On the road, they have gone 28-25 and 29-24 at home.

Starter Corbin Burnes has been a reliable presence in the Brewers’ rotation this season, boasting an overall record of 9-6 over 21 appearances. His ERA stands at 3.46, and he has recorded an impressive K/9 figure of 9.26. Additionally, his FIP is 3.83 and OBP is .266.

The Brewers are hoping for another strong performance from Corbin Burnes, who had a quality start in his last outing. Despite Burnes going six innings and giving up just two runs, the Reds were able to come away with a 4-3 victory over Milwaukee.

So far this season, the Brewers’ has gone deep 111 times, placing them 19th in the league. Over Milwaukee’s previous five games, they are 12th in runs scored, with their season average of 4.2 runs per game putting them 21st in the league. The Brewers’ overall team batting average stands at .232 along with an OBP of .312.

Christian Yelich has been a major contributor to the Brewers’ offense this season, leading the team in home runs over their last ten games with two and boasting a total of 16 for the year. His overall batting average stands at .286.

WILL THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?

Heading into their 106th game of the season, the Nationals have an overall record of 44-62, and have a win percentage of just 37.7% at home. Currently, Washington is 5th in the NL East and has a 12-20-2 record across their 34 series.

Washington starter Jake Irvin has had a challenging season thus far, with an overall record of 3-5 and an ERA of 4.96. His ERA on the road is 5.99, while his home ERA stands at 5.44. Irvin’s WHIP for the season is 1.43, and opposing teams have batted .255 against him with a slugging percentage of .424.

Jake Irvin’s latest start ended in a no-decision, despite a solid performance. The right-hander went six innings, allowing four runs on six hits against the Rockies. Ultimately, the Nationals emerged victorious with a 5-4 scoreline.

The Nationals’ offense comes into today’s game with a collective batting average of .261 and are averaging 4.3 runs per game for the season. Looking at their ten most recent games, Washington has gone deep eight times, which is ranked 13th in that time. To date, the team’s OPS is .719 to go along with an on base percentage of .319.

Lane Thomas has been one of the Nationals’ most potent offensive threats this season. His .285 batting average and 55 runs batted in have been instrumental in the team’s success, while his 16 home runs have provided a power boost to the lineup.