Mets vs Nationals Prediction, Pick and Preview, September 3 (9/3): MLB

Credit: photo by Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Odds

Key stats

Preview

Today the Mets go on the road to take on the Nationals.  The Mets were able to pull of a win last night against the Marlins to put their win streak to 4 games.  They currently sit 5 games back in the NL East and 5 games back for a wild card spot.  The Nationals on the other hand are firmly out of the playoffs after becoming sellers at the trade deadline.  The Nationals come into this game losing 5 straight, backed by their depleted offense, bad starting pitching, and terrible bullpen.

Pitching matchup

Mets

Rich Hill (0-2, 4.83 ERA) will take the mound today for the Mets.  He enters this game with a 1.29 WHIP and a bad 5.01 XFIP.  Hill has a 21.8% strikeout rate followed by an 8% walk rate this season.  Rich Hill has been extremely medicore this season, he has been getting hit hard by right handed bats and his been succestible to the long ball at times.  He has allowed 4 ER's or less in a every start this season, a pretty good string of starts if you ask me.  

Nationals

Sean Nolin (0-2, 6.57 ERA) will be on the bump today to take on the Mets.  Nolin enters this game with a 1.86 WHIP and 4.24 XFIP.  Nolin enters this game with a 19.4% strikeout rate, accompanied by a 8.3% walk rate.  Nolin enters this game with only 12.1 innings under his belt this season, striking out 13 hitters and allowing a total of 9 ER's (4 HR's).  In his limited sample Nolin has been getting hit hard and giving up quality contact to both sides of the plate.  His last and best start was against this same Mets team, where he went 5.1 innings, striking out 6, while allowing 2 ER's on 2 Hr's.  He will try to handle this same offense like that once again.

Prediction

I will look to back the team that comes into this game playing for a playoff spot.  The Mets offense has been bad, a matchup with this Nationals team should help them get back on track and start to put up some runs. Hill has been consistent this year and should have no problems keeping this depeleted Nationals offense in check.  

PICK: Mets ML (-158)

Find more sports picks from the top sports bettors and MLB experts all in one place using our iOS and Google Play apps, as well as our other articles at Kingpin.pro.  We are the home for MLB picks, sports picks and sports betting.