Arizona Diamondbacks vs Washington Nationals Picks and Predictions July 31st 2024

Red-hot Eugenio Suarez, D-backs go for sweep of Nats

At 3:40 PM ET, two National League teams face off, as the Nationals are on the road to play the Diamondbacks in Phoenix. The over/under line is at 8.5 runs, and the Diamondbacks are favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -183 compared to the Nationals at +154. MacKenzie Gore is starting for the Nationals, and he is facing off against Zac Gallen for the Diamondbacks. Arizona comes into the game on a two-game winning streak, and they are 3rd in the NL West, while the Nationals are 4th in the NL East with a record of 49-59.

Washington will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak, and they are 1-3 so far in the month of July. Arizona has won five of their last 10 games, and they are 57-51 overall. MASN will be televising Wednesday’s matchup.

Washington vs. Arizona Key Information

• Teams: Nationals at Diamondbacks
• Where: Chase Field Phoenix
• Date: Wednesday, July 31st
• Betting Odds ARI -183 | WSH +154 O/U 8.5

The Nationals Can Win If…

Left-hander MacKenzie Gore gets the start for the Nationals today as he faces the Diamondbacks on the road. He has made 21 starts this season and has a record of 6-8 with an ERA of 4.51. Gore’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.50. In his 21 appearances, he has turned in five quality starts and is averaging 10.31 strikeouts per nine innings. Gore most recently faced the Cardinals, where he gave up six earned runs in five innings of work. He finished with a no decision in that outing. Before that, he had given up at least four earned runs in three straight starts.

Washington’s offense comes into the game averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 18th in the league. They have been a bit better on the road, averaging 4.3 runs per contest. The Nationals are the league’s worst home run hitting team and are also near the bottom of the league in terms of slugging percentage and OPS.

CJ Abrams has been the Nationals’ top power threat this season, as he has gone deep 15 times, which is the best mark on the team. He is also the team’s leader in RBIs, with 51. Luis Garcia Jr. is right behind him in the home run department, with 11 homers. Over his last two games, Alex Call has gone 3/5 with a home run, and Juan Yepez has gone 8/28 over his last seven games.

• The Nationals are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Nationals are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Washington has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Nationals have an average of 7.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Nationals are 4-6
• Looking back across the Nationals last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Washington has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Nationals have averaged 5.1 runs per game on offense

The Diamondbacks Can Win If…

Right-hander Zac Gallen gets the start for the Diamondbacks today as he faces the Nationals at home. Gallen has made 17 starts this season and has a record of 8-5 with a 3.70 ERA. In his last outing, he gave up three earned runs in six innings of work, coming away with the win. Before that, he had picked up the win in two straight outings. Gallen has turned in eight quality starts this year and is averaging 8.83 strikeouts per nine innings. For the season, he has allowed eight homers and is averaging 3.08 walks per nine innings.

Arizona has been one of the best offensive teams in the league this season, averaging 5.1 runs per game, which is 2nd in the MLB. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.3 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .257, which is 4th in the league, and are also one of the top home run hitting teams in the league.

Ketel Marte and Christian Walker have been two of the Diamondbacks’ top power threats this season, with Marte leading the team with 24 homers and Walker right behind him with 23. Marte has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 13/27 in his last eight games with five homers and 15 RBIs. Walker has also been swinging it well, hitting five homers in his last eight games.

• The Diamondbacks are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Diamondbacks are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Arizona has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Diamondbacks have an average of 8.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Diamondbacks are 7-3
• Looking back across the Diamondbacks last five games as the favorite, they are 5-0
• Arizona has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Diamondbacks have averaged 6.0 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For a money line pick, our lean would be to take the Diamondbacks to come out on top at home. As for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the over, as this is projected to be the 8th highest-scoring game of the day, and this one has the 6th highest total hits projection. We have the Diamondbacks offense finishing with the 4th fewest team strikeouts, and Zac Gallen is our 5th highest projected starter in terms of innings pitched.

Eugenio Suarez has been in exceptional form this July, significantly contributing to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ recent success. As the Diamondbacks look to sweep the Washington Nationals, Suarez’s stellar performance and the team’s overall momentum play crucial roles. This article examines Suarez’s hot streak, the Diamondbacks’ strategies, and their prospects moving forward.

Eugenio Suarez’s Stellar July

Explosive Performance

Eugenio Suarez has had a phenomenal July, highlighted by his recent three-homer game against the Nationals, where the Diamondbacks triumphed 17-0. This marks the second time in his career that Suarez has hit three homers in a single game, with his previous feat occurring in 2020 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Impact of Audience Support

Suarez reflected on the difference between his two three-homer games, noting the significant impact of having cheering fans in the stands. “It feels way different when you have crowds and people are cheering for you,” he said, emphasizing how audience support enhances player performance.

Dramatic Improvement

Starting July with a .196 average, Suarez has turned things around, hitting ten home runs and driving in 27 runs with a .326 batting average for the month. His focus on having good at-bats has yielded impressive results, boosting the Diamondbacks’ offensive strength.

Diamondbacks’ Winning Momentum

Recent Success

The Diamondbacks have won six of their last seven games, positioning themselves just half a game away from an NL wild-card spot. Their recent victories include a record-tying 22 hits in Tuesday’s game, showcasing their strong team performance.

Nationals’ Defensive Struggles

The Nationals have struggled defensively against Arizona, conceding 24 consecutive runs over two games. Patrick Corbin, Washington’s starter on Tuesday, had a particularly rough outing, giving up 11 runs (10 earned) in three innings.

Road Trip Recap

Despite recent losses, Nationals manager Dave Martinez remains optimistic about ending their road trip positively. Aiming for a 3-3 split, Martinez sees the upcoming games as an opportunity for a fresh start in August.

Injury Updates and Strategic Acquisitions

Christian Walker’s Absence

First baseman Christian Walker was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain. Expected to be out for three to four weeks, Walker’s absence is significant, given it was his first missed game of the season.

Roster Reinforcements

To mitigate Walker’s absence, the Diamondbacks acquired veteran first baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell from the Miami Marlins. Additionally, right-hander Dylan Floro was acquired from Washington, enhancing Arizona’s pitching depth and overall lineup.

Upcoming Game Preview

Pitching Matchup

The series finale features Arizona’s Zac Gallen, who has an 8-5 record with a 3.70 ERA, against Washington’s MacKenzie Gore. Gallen aims for his third consecutive win, while Gore seeks his first victory since June, facing a tough challenge with a 4.51 ERA.

Key Player Matchups

Randal Grichuk’s strong performance against Gore, including a homer and six RBIs, will be crucial. Gallen’s solid historical performance against the Nationals suggests a favorable outcome for the Diamondbacks.

Conclusion

Eugenio Suarez’s remarkable July has been a driving force behind the Arizona Diamondbacks’ recent success. As they aim to sweep the Washington Nationals, the team’s strategic acquisitions and strong performances set a promising stage for their future games. With the playoff race heating up, Arizona’s ability to maintain their momentum will be crucial in their pursuit of a postseason spot.

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