Betsided

Nationals vs. Brewers Prediction and Odds for Friday, May 20 (Pitcher's Duel in the Nation's Capital)

By Ben Heisler

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer has improved his strikeouts per nine innings by almost four per game in 2022.
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer has improved his strikeouts per nine innings by almost four per game in 2022. / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit

It's "Eric vs. Erick" when the Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers match up for the start of a three-game series tonight at American Family Field.

Erick Fedde goes for Washington as he looks to improve on his worst start of the month his last time out; lasting just four innings against the Houston Astros; walking three and giving up three runs.

Meanwhile, left-hander Eric Lauer toes the rubber for the Brewers as he looks to improve on his career year in Milwaukee.

Here are the latest odds for tonight's matchup in Milwaukee over at WynnBET Sportsbook.

Nationals vs. Brewers Odds, Run Line and Total

Run Line:

  • Nationals +1.5 (-125)
  • Brewers -1.5 (+105)

Moneyline:

  • Nationals +175
  • Brewers -190

Total:

  • 8 (OVER -110 | UNDER -110)

Nationals vs. Brewers Prediction and Pick

I expect both pitchers to fare well tonight, leading me to head towards the under in this NL affair.

Lauer's 2022 season has been eye-opening for a variety of reasons.

His overall numbers are excellent: 3-1 with a 2.62 ERA through 34.2 innings. But what's really stood out are his strikeout numbers.

Through his career, Lauer averaged 8.79 strikeouts per nine innings; just under one punch out per inning. This year, he's up to 12.72 per nine; just under four more K's per nine!

The Nationals rank sixth-worst in baseball in offensive WAR at Fangraphs, and own the eighth-worst weighted on-base average (wOBA) vs. left-handers this season.

As for Fedde, walks have been his glaring weakness this season; averaging three walks for every four strikeouts this season. However, other than one blow-up start back in April, he's yet to allow more than three runs in more than two starts this year.

Between Lauer's excellence, and Fedde's likelihood to positively regress following one of his rougher starts, I like the under to hit tonight in Milwaukee.

LEAN: UNDER 8 (-110)

Follow all of Ben Heisler's betting plays in real-time HERE