MLB Thursday: Cardinals vs Nationals

Cardinals Look to Sweep Nationals

The St. Louis Cardinals will take on the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Thursday afternoon. The Cardinals seem to be enjoying nothing but sunny skies with 5 wins in in a row and 10 of their last 11 games. They have ridden this streak to claim the best record in MLB. The Cardinals look to complete a four-game against the reeling Nationals.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Midwest (St. Louis), MASN (Washington); LINE: Nationals -155; O/U: 9 Under -115.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Dakota Hudson (2-1, 5.63 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (2-1, 3.82)

Jose Martinez raised his batting average to .375 after producing his fourth consecutive multi-hit performance in St. Louis' 5-1 win on Wednesday. Martinez had a two-run single in the first inning. He also scored for the third straight game when he capped the scoring in the eighth. Runs have been few and far between for injury-riddled Washington has mustered just six runs in the series.

This, That, and a Dart Throw:

The Nationals' Strasburg has spun a pair of gems in his last two outings. He answered a two-hit, 11-strikeout performance in a 5-0 romp of Miami on April 21st. He then had a two-run effort over seven innings six days later in a no-decision against hometown San Diego. The 30-year-old crybaby fashions a 2-2 record with a 2.56 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in six career appearances against St. Louis. He hasn't faced the club since 2016. Marcell Ozuna is 13-for-38 with two homers versus Strasburg. Jedd Gyorko is 6-for-14 with a homer. He has kept Yadier Molina (2-for-9) in check.

St. Louis's Hudson has back-to-back wins in his last two starts. He overcame three solo homers to work five innings in a 6-4 victory versus the New York Mets on April 21st. He then permitted three runs in a season-high 5 2/3 innings in a 6-3 win against Cincinnati. Hudson kept the ball in the park versus the Reds after being taken deep eight times in his previous five starts. He made four relief appearances against Washington in his rookie season of 2018. He gave up two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 total innings.

The Dart Throw: Cardinals 5, Nationals 1.

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MLB Betting Odds & Trends

St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
St. Louis is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
St. Louis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
St. Louis is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Washington
St. Louis is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Washington
St. Louis is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Washington
St. Louis is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 8 of St. Louis's last 12 games when playing on the road against Washington

Washington Nationals
Washington is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Washington is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
Washington is 5-12 ATS in its last 17 games at home
Washington is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Washington's last 21 games at home
Washington is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis
Washington is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing St. Louis
Washington is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against St. Louis
Washington is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against St. Louis
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Washington's last 12 games when playing at home against St. Louis

Next up:
St. Louis at Chicago Friday, May 3
Washington at Philadelphia Friday, May 3

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