Washington Nationals vs La Angels Angels Picks and Predictions August 9th 2024

There does appear to be a chance of rain in Washington, D.C., on Friday, as the Nationals and Angels are set to square off at 6:45 PM ET at Nationals Park. José Soriano will start for the Angels, while the Nationals are going with Mitchell Parker. On the money line, the Angels are the slight favorite, and the over/under line is currently at 9 runs.

Both teams come into the game with a record of 52-64, and the Angels are currently on a two-game winning streak. The Nationals are 4th in the NL East, while the Angels are 4th in the AL West. BSW is carrying Friday’s TV coverage for this one.

Los Angeles vs. Washington Key Information

Jose Soriano is looking to build off his last outing, where he finished with a no-decision. Against the Mets on August 3rd, the right-hander went six innings, giving up no earned runs and issuing two walks. He finished with six strikeouts in the outing. Soriano has made 19 starts this season and has a record of 6-7. His ERA for the season is 3.47, along with a WHIP of 1.21. Opponents are batting .224 off Soriano this season. The last time he gave up an earned run was on July 28th, where he gave up three earned runs in 2 2/3 innings of work.

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So far this season, the Angels are averaging 4.1 runs per game, which is 25th in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in home runs and team OPS. However, they do have three players tied for the team lead in homers at 16 apiece. Zach Neto has been swinging a hot bat of late, hitting .407 over his last eight games, with three homers. For the season, he is batting .266.

Los Angeles has three players with 16 homers, and Taylor Ward and Jo Adell are 2nd and 3rd on the team in RBIs, respectively. Ward is hitting just .228 this season, but he is on a four-game hitting streak. Jo Adell is also on a nice streak, as he has hits in seven straight games. Both Ward and Adell have 16 homers.

Washington is starting left-hander Mitchell Parker vs. the Angels today. In his 20 starts, Parker has a record of 6-6 and an ERA of 4.06. For the season, he has a WHIP of 1.19 and has issued just 2.45 walks per nine innings compared to 7.36 strikeouts. Parker is coming off a great outing vs. the Brewers, where he went six innings, didn’t allow a run, and gave up just three hits. Before that, he had allowed at least two earned runs in three straight starts.

Washington’s offense has been average this season, averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 16th in the league. They have been slightly better at home, averaging 4.2 runs per game. The Nationals have struggled in the power department, as they are 25th in home runs and have a collective ISO of just .132 (23rd). However, they do have two hitters who have hit at least 14 homers, with CJ Abrams leading the team with 17 long balls.

Luis Garcia Jr. has been on a tear for the Nationals, going 13/29 in his last eight games with three homers and six RBIs. For the season, he is batting .290 with 14 homers. CJ Abrams is batting just .249 this season but does have 17 homers and 59 RBIs. He is also on a three-game hitting streak.

For a money-line pick, our lean is on the Nationals 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 our lowest projected scoring game of the day. Washington starter Mitchell Parker comes into this one with the 4th best earned run average projection among today’s starters.

Angels Look to Continue Winning Ways Against Nationals

The Los Angeles Angels, new off a fruitful series in New York, head to Washington, D.C., with their sights set on expanding their new series of wins. Victors of four of their last five games, the Angels are entering this interleague series against the Washington Nationals with energy on their side. Their latest victory, a 9-4 triumph over the New York Yankees on Thursday, showcased both hostile capability and strong pitching, making way for what could be a pivotal series in their playoff push.

Angels’ Hostile Flood Drove by Jo Adell

The Angels’ new achievement has been driven by a hazardous offense, featured by Jo Adell’s resurgence at the plate. Adell, who has hits in seven sequential games, played a critical job in Thursday’s success, driving in three runs with a bases-clearing twofold during a six-run fifth inning. His performance assisted the Angels with getting a series triumph in the Bronx, a place famously extreme for visiting teams.

Adell’s recent hot streak has been a significant turnaround from his earlier struggles. Entering August with a batting average of .192, he has since raised it to .320, thanks in part to adjustments in his approach.

“I’ve definitely had to simplify at the plate,” Adell explained. “Kind of cutting down on the swing and leg kick, which has been a big adjustment for me. It’s helped me be more direct, put more balls in play. That’s what I can bring to the team. It doesn’t always have to be the long ball—and tonight showed that.”

With 16 home runs, Adell is tied with Zach Neto, Logan O’Hoppe, and Taylor Ward for the team lead. His ability to contribute both with power and timely hitting has made him a crucial part of the Angels’ lineup as they chase a postseason spot.

Tyler Anderson and Jose Soriano Anchor the Rotation

The Angels’ success hasn’t just been about offense. On the mound, All-Star Tyler Anderson delivered a strong performance against the Yankees, throwing six innings of one-run ball to secure the win. Anderson’s outing exemplified the kind of balanced effort the Angels will need to sustain their winning ways.

Hoping to expand on Anderson’s prosperity, 25-year-old right-hander Jose Soriano will take the hill for the Angels on Friday. Soriano has been a reliable presence in the rotation, falling off a six-inning shutout performance against the New York Mets. With a 6-7 record and a 3.47 ERA, Soriano has shown the ability to dominate restricting setups, and he’ll face the Nationals without precedent for his career, hoping to proceed with serious areas of strength for him of structure.

Nationals Seek Home Comfort After Tough Series

The Washington Nationals, meanwhile, are hoping to reverse their recent fortunes. The team has struggled at home, going 3-7 in their last 10 games at Nationals Park. Their most recent series saw them lose three of four to the San Francisco Giants, including a heartbreaking 9-5 defeat in 10 innings on Thursday. The Nationals battled through multiple rain delays and saw second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. tie the game with a dramatic three-run homer in the ninth inning, only to fall short due to a series of defensive miscues.

“It was good until it wasn’t,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said, summing up the frustrating loss. “We played in sloppy conditions, and we got sloppy the last two innings.”

The Nationals committed four errors in that game, three of which came in the final two innings, ultimately dooming their chances for a comeback. As they look to bounce back, Washington will rely on 24-year-old left-hander Mitchell Parker to steady the ship.

Mitchell Parker Takes the Mound for Nationals

Mitchell Parker, making his most memorable career appearance against the Angels, will start for the Nationals on Friday. The new kid on the block left-hander is falling off a great trip against the Milwaukee Brewers, where he tossed six scoreless innings to earn a success. Parker has a 6-6 record with a 4.06 ERA this season and will be tasked with dialing back a hot Angels setup that has been terminating on all chambers.

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Key Matchup: Offense versus Protection

As the series starts off, the matchup between the Angels’ strong offense and the Nationals’ shaky protection could demonstrate definitive. The Angels will be hoping to capitalize on any mistakes, while the Nationals should straighten out their handling assuming they desire to avoid another series of frustrating misfortunes.

With the two teams at pivotal places in their seasons — the Angels pushing for a playoff spot and the Nationals endeavoring to regain some consistency — this series vows to offer a lot of drama and fervor. The Angels’ blend of strong hitting and strong pitching allows them a solid opportunity to proceed with their series of wins, however the Nationals, with a promising youthful pitcher in Parker, will be eager to ruin their plans and make some truly necessary progress at home.