On June 22, 2023, baseball fans are in for a treat as the Arizona Diamondbacks face the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. This encounter has the makings of a high-scoring game, and we will take a detailed look at the key factors that lead us to this prediction. Join us as we dive into the pitching, hitting, and injury report ahead of this exciting matchup.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Team Review

Pitching Analysis

The Diamondbacks will be starting with Tommy Henry on the mound. The left-hander has had a somewhat mixed season, with a 3-1 win-loss record, an ERA of 4.66, and a WHIP of 1.39 over 56.0 innings. He’s given up 56 hits, 22 walks, and 10 home runs, while striking out 36.

Hitting Analysis

Arizona boasts an impressive batting lineup, led by Corbin Carroll, who has belted 16 home runs, has a batting average of .298, and has driven in 40 runs. Christian Walker is another key player with 15 home runs and 49 RBIs. The Diamondbacks’ team batting average is .264 with an on-base percentage of .330 and a slugging percentage of .440.

Injuries

Relief pitcher Andrew Chafin is listed as day-to-day for the Diamondbacks, which could slightly affect their bullpen depth.

Washington Nationals: Team Review

Pitching Analysis

For the Nationals, right-hander Jake Irvin will take the mound. His season statistics are not too impressive, holding a 1-3 record with an ERA of 5.25 and a WHIP of 1.61 over 36.0 innings. He has allowed 36 hits, 22 walks, and 4 home runs, striking out 27.

Hitting Analysis

Lane Thomas and Joey Meneses are the players to watch for the Nationals. Thomas has 11 home runs with a .290 batting average, while Meneses is batting at .292. The Nationals have a team batting average of .261 with an OBP of .319 and SLG of .389.

Injuries

The Nationals have a few injury concerns. Carter Kieboom is listed as day-to-day, while Victor Robles and Carl Edwards Jr. are on the IL. This could impact their playing options during the game.

Prediction

Considering the pitching matchup, both starting pitchers have relatively high ERAs and WHIPs, indicating that they often allow runners on base and concede runs. Additionally, both teams have offensive firepower, especially the Diamondbacks with the likes of Corbin Carroll and Christian Walker. The Nationals also have Lane Thomas who can change the game with his hitting.

Another factor is the weather, with the temperature at 79 degrees Fahrenheit, the conditions are ideal for hitting. This combined with the less-than-stellar pitching on both sides, suggests that there will be plenty of scoring opportunities.

Given the combination of the pitching match-up, the hitting talent on both teams, and the favorable weather conditions, it’s highly likely that this game will exceed the total of 9.5 runs. Therefore, over 9.5 runs is the best bet for this MLB game.