Nationals vs. Padres prediction and odds for Sunday, June 25
By Josh Yourish
Yesterday, Josiah Gray and three Washington Nationals relievers got the best of the San Diego Padres in a 2-0 Nationals win. Today, the Nationals come into the rubber match at 29-47 against the 37-40 Padres. San Diego is fourth in the NL West and well out of the tight race at the top of their division.
For Game 3 of this series the Nationals will go with Mackenzie Gore, former Padre, against Seth Lugo. Gore has made 15 starts in his age 24 season and is 3-6 with a 4.02 ERA. Lugo on the other side is 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA. The Padres are home favorites in the series finale, a game they desperately need to win against the last place Nationals.
Nationals vs. Padres odds, run line and total
Nationals vs. Padres prediction and pick
Gore has faced his former team already this season, back in May when he allowed three runs on seven hits over 4.2 innings. He gave up two home runs in that one and had five strikeouts, but also four walks.
It’s no surprise that the Padres did damage against Gore because they typically hit all lefties well. San Diego is fourth in the MLB in OPS against lefties at .784 with the third most home runs, 34. The reason for their success isn’t Juan Soto, the former Nat, it is two of their other superstars. Manny Machado has a .969 OPS against lefties with a team high 14 RBI, but Fernando Tatis Jr. has been even better. Tatis is eighth in at-bats against lefties because of the time he missed, but he leads the team with five home runs and second is Gary Sanchez who has been with the team for even less time.
The Padres have too much right handed power in their lineup to not put up some crooked numbers against Gore in this one. Seth Lugo doesn’t have to be great, maybe not even good, he just has to be okay and the Padres should cruise behind a big day from their bats.
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