Washington Nationals vs La Angels Picks and Predictions August 11th 2024

From Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., the Angels and Nationals face off in an interleague matchup. First pitch for this one is set for 11:35 AM ET. Jack Kochanowicz is starting for the Angels, and the Nationals are going with MacKenzie Gore.

The Nationals are favored on the money line, with the odds sitting at -150 compared to the Angels at +127. Sunday’s over/under line is at 8.5 runs, and the forecast calls for broken clouds and temperatures in the low 70s. Washington has won two straight and is 4th in the NL East, while the Angels are 4th in the AL West with a record of 51-66.

Los Angeles vs. Washington Key Information

• Teams: Angels at Nationals
• Where: Nationals Park Washington
• Date: Sunday, August 11th
• Betting Odds WSH -150 | LAA +127 O/U 8.5

Jack Kochanowicz and the Angels are on the road to take on the Nationals. Kochanowicz has started 2 games this season and has taken the loss in both. His last outing was a 7-4 loss to the Athletics, where he went 4 innings and gave up 7 hits and 4 earned runs.

So far this season, the Angels offense has been one of the worst in the league, averaging just 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 slugging percentage. However, they do have three players with at least 16 homers, led by Zach Neto and Jo Adell, who are both tied for the team lead with 17 homers.

Neto has been hot of late, going 13/29 in his last seven games with four homers and 14 RBIs. Adell is also on a nine-game hitting streak. Taylor Ward is also on a good streak, with six straight games with a hit, but he is batting just .233 for the season.

• The Angels are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Angels are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Los Angeles has an over/under record of 3-5-2 in their last ten games.
• The Angels have an average of 5.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Angels are 6-4
• Looking back across the Angels last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Los Angeles has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Angels have averaged 4.5 runs per game on offense

Left-hander MacKenzie Gore gets the start for the Nationals today as he faces the Angels at home. He has made 23 starts this season and has a record of 7-9 with an ERA of 4.66. Gore’s WHIP for the season is 1.53, and opponents are batting .267 off him this year. In his 23 starts, Gore has turned in five quality starts and is averaging 9.93 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, he picked up the win, going five innings and giving up four earned runs on six hits. Before that, he had given up at least two homers in three straight outings.

Washington’s offense is averaging 4.3 runs per game this season, which is 16th in the league. They have been a little better at home, averaging 4.2 runs per game. The Nationals are near the bottom of the league in home runs and have a collective batting average of .243, which is 12th in the league. Luis Garcia Jr. and CJ Abrams are the team’s top home run hitters, with 14 and 17 homers, respectively.

Luis Garcia Jr. and Alex Call have been swinging the bat well for the Nationals of late, with Garcia Jr. hitting .417 over his last 10 games, and Call is right behind him at .444. Call is also on a five-game hitting streak. Over his last 10 games, Garcia Jr. has three homers and nine runs scored.

The Washington Nationals are gearing up for the final game of their three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels this Sunday. With both teams dealing with their own set of issues, this game is shaping up to be a crucial battle, especially with the possibility that the Nationals’ shortstop, CJ Abrams, might be sidelined.

MacKenzie Gore’s Mission for Consistency

MacKenzie Gore, the Nationals’ lefty, is taking the mound with hopes of building on his recent victory against the San Francisco Giants. Gore had a rough stretch where he went winless in eight starts, posting a disappointing 7.24 ERA. However, things started looking up with an 11-5 win last Tuesday. Still, it wasn’t all smooth sailing; he gave up five runs (four earned) and eight hits over five innings. After a rocky start, including a solo homer to Heliot Ramos and a three-run blast from Michael Conforto, Gore managed to pull it together later in the game.

In his own words, Gore said:

That fire is going to be crucial as he faces the Angels, a team he’s only gone up against once before, where he allowed two runs on four hits in a no-decision back in April 2023.

Is CJ Abrams In or Out?

The Nationals might be going into this game without their dynamic shortstop and leadoff hitter, CJ Abrams, who’s dealing with some upper back tightness. The issue first cropped up during a rain delay on Thursday, and while Abrams has been able to pinch-run—he even scored the winning run in Saturday’s 5-4 victory—his status as a starter is still up in the air.

Abrams has been a standout for Washington this season, leading the team with 17 home runs and 59 RBIs. If he’s out, it’s a big hit to the Nationals’ offensive strategy. Abrams’ power and speed at the top of the lineup are crucial, so if he can’t play, the team will need to lean heavily on other key hitters to step up.

Angels’ Pitching Woes: Enter Kochanowicz

On the Angels’ side, right-hander Jack Kochanowicz is making his third major league start. His first two outings haven’t exactly gone according to plan, leaving him with a rough 14.14 ERA. In his debut against the Seattle Mariners, he gave up five runs (four earned) in what turned into an 11-0 blowout. His follow-up start against the Oakland A’s wasn’t much better, with seven runs allowed on seven hits over four innings in an 8-2 loss.

Despite the rocky start to his MLB career, Kochanowicz is staying positive. He said

The Angels are going to need a much stronger performance from the 6-foot-7 right-hander to avoid another long night for their bullpen.

Players to Keep an Eye On

While the pitching matchups are grabbing a lot of attention, the hitters could make all the difference. For the Angels, shortstop Zach Neto has been on fire, hitting .448 over the past seven games and boosting his season average from .252 to .267. If Kochanowicz struggles on the mound, Neto’s ability to get on base and drive in runs could be a game-changer.

On the other side, the Angels are dealing with a slump from their catcher, Logan O’Hoppe, who’s just 2-for-35 in his last several games. If the Nationals’ pitchers can keep the Angels’ power hitters in check, O’Hoppe’s struggles could leave a big hole in their lineup.

Wrapping It Up

This upcoming Nationals vs. Angels game is shaping up to be a must-watch. With MacKenzie Gore looking to keep his momentum going and Jack Kochanowicz trying to prove he’s got what it takes at the major league level, the pitching duel will be crucial. Meanwhile, the uncertainty around CJ Abrams adds another layer of drama for the Nationals, which could give the Angels the edge if they can capitalize.

As the Nationals aim to keep their winning streak alive and the Angels look to bounce back from a rough patch, this game will test both teams’ resilience and depth. Keep an eye on how the pitching plays out and whether the key hitters can step up when it counts.

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For a money-line pick, we are leaning towards the Angels to come out on top on the road vs. the Nationals. We also have this as the 4th highest-scoring game of the day and are leaning towards taking the over. These teams are projected to finish with the 4th fewest home runs. MacKenzie Gore is our 7th ranked starting pitcher in terms of strikeouts, but we are still leaning towards the Angels to come out on top.