Washington Nationals vs New York Yankees Picks and Predictions August 26th 2024

Nats calling up Dylan Crews for battle with Aaron Judge, Yanks

Carlos Rodon will start for the Yankees on Wednesday in an interleague matchup vs. the Nationals. MacKenzie Gore is slated to start for the Nationals. The money line odds have the Yankees as the favorites, with their odds sitting at -195 compared to the Nationals at +163. The over/under line is currently at 9 runs.

First pitch from Nationals Park is set for 6:45 PM ET, and AMZP will be televising this one. The Yankees are 78-55 and are first in the AL East, while the Nationals are 4th in the NL East with a record of 60-73.

New York vs. Washington Key Information

• Teams: Yankees at Nationals
• Where: Nationals Park Washington
• Date: Wednesday, August 28th
• Betting Odds NYY -195 | WSH +163 O/U 9

The Yankees Can Win If…

Carlos Rodón gets the start for the Yankees today as he faces the Nationals on the road. So far this season, he has made 26 starts and has a record of 14-8 with an ERA of 4.16. Rodón’s WHIP for the season is 1.23. In his 26 appearances, he has turned in 13 quality starts. Looking at his numbers, Rodón has a BB/9 figure of 2.88 compared to 9.79 strikeouts per nine innings. The left-hander most recently pitched on August 23rd, where he didn’t give up a run in six innings of work. Before that, he had given up at least two homers in three straight starts.

Not only do the Yankees lead the league in home runs, but they are also the top-scoring offense in baseball, averaging 5.1 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, putting up 5.4 runs per contest. As a team, they are the league’s best in terms of on-base percentage and OPS. The Yankees also have the league’s top two home run hitters in Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.

Aaron Judge has been on a tear of late, going 8/23 with six homers over his last seven games. For the season, he is batting .333 with a league-leading 122 RBIs. Gleyber Torres has also been swinging a hot bat, going 10/27 with two homers in his last seven games.

• The Yankees are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Yankees are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• New York has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Yankees have an average of 4.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Yankees are 6-4
• Looking back across the Yankees last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• New York has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Yankees have averaged 4.1 runs per game on offense

The Nationals Can Win If…

Washington is sending left-hander MacKenzie Gore to the mound today vs. the Yankees. He has made 26 starts this season and has a record of 7-11 with an ERA of 4.51. Gore’s WHIP for the season is 1.56. In his 26 appearances, he has turned in six quality starts. Looking back at his most recent outing, Gore finished with a no-decision vs. the Braves, going six innings and giving up one earned run on four hits. Before that, he had lost three straight starts. Gore has given up at least one homer in each of his last three outings.

The Nationals offense is averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 21st in the league. They have been a below-average home run hitting team this season and are also near the bottom of the league in terms of slugging percentage and OPS. However, they do have the 11th best team batting average in the league. Luis Garcia Jr. comes into the game batting .292 and is the Nationals’ leader in RBIs this season.

Jacob Young has been swinging a hot bat for the Nationals, going 9/24 in his last seven games. During this stretch, he has one home run and three RBIs. Juan Yepez is also on a four-game hitting streak and has two homers in his last four games.

• The Nationals are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Nationals are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Washington has an over/under record of 2-8 in their last ten games.
• The Nationals have an average of 3.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Nationals are 3-7
• Looking back across the Nationals last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Washington has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Nationals have averaged 3.5 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Our lean for a money-line pick is to take the Nationals to come out on top at home. And with our projections pointing to this being the 7th highest-scoring game of today’s league slate, we are leaning towards taking the over. The Yankees offense has our 4th highest projected home run total, and Carlos Rodón is 9th among today’s starters in projected strikeouts. On the other side, MacKenzie Gore has the 6th worst innings pitched projection among today’s starters.

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Washington, D.C. — The Washington Nationals are set to infuse fresh talent into their lineup as they host the New York Yankees on Monday night, with top prospect Dylan Crews making his much-anticipated Major League Baseball debut. The matchup promises to be a thrilling encounter, headlined by the debut of the young outfielder and the continued dominance of Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.

Dylan Crews: The Nationals’ Future Takes the Field

Dylan Crews, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, is expected to join the Nationals’ roster for the first time after impressing in the minor leagues. The 22-year-old outfielder has been a standout in the Nationals’ farm system, earning the distinction of being the team’s top prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.

Minor League Success: Crews began the 2024 season with Double-A Harrisburg, where he posted a .274 batting average, along with five home runs, 38 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases over 51 games. His promotion to Triple-A Rochester saw him continue his strong performance, hitting .265 with eight home runs, 30 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases in 49 games.

A Key Piece for the Future: “He’s having a great year, he really is,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of Crews. “We all know that he’s a big part of our future.” Crews will be the eighth prospect to debut for the Nationals this season, signaling the team’s commitment to building a competitive future roster.

Aaron Judge’s Historic Season Continues

As Crews steps onto the big stage, he does so against one of the game’s biggest stars—Aaron Judge. The Yankees’ powerhouse is in the midst of another historic season, having just belted his 50th and 51st home runs of the year during a 10-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Judge, who already holds the American League single-season home run record, is on pace to surpass that mark with an estimated 63 home runs this season.

Impact Player: Judge’s ability to change the game with a single swing makes him a formidable opponent for any pitcher. His recent performances have kept the Yankees atop the AL East, currently 1.5 games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles.

Pitching Duel: Cortes vs. Parker

The pitching matchup for Monday’s game pits the Yankees’ Nestor Cortes against Nationals’ left-hander Mitchell Parker.

Nestor Cortes: Cortes (7-10, 4.00 ERA) has been in excellent form recently, with back-to-back scoreless outings against the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox. His consistency and ability to control games make him a significant challenge for the Nationals’ young lineup. Monday will mark his first career appearance against Washington.

Mitchell Parker: The Nationals will counter with Parker (7-7, 4.26 ERA), who is coming off a solid start against the Colorado Rockies, where he allowed just one run over seven innings. Facing a Yankees lineup featuring the likes of Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gleyber Torres, Parker will need to be at his best.

Game Recap: Yankees Edge Nationals in a Tight Contest

In a game that lived up to its billing, the Yankees emerged victorious, defeating the Nationals 5-2 on Monday night. The game was highlighted by a strong performance from Nestor Cortes, who pitched into the seventh inning to secure his third consecutive win.

Key Moments:

• Yankees’ Power: The Yankees’ offense was driven by home runs from Gleyber Torres, Austin Wells, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. Torres set the tone early, leading off the game with a home run, while Wells and Chisholm added insurance runs later in the contest.
• Dylan Crews’ Debut: In his debut, Crews went 0-for-3 with a walk, showing flashes of potential but ultimately finding the transition to MLB pitching challenging.
• Defensive Brilliance: Aaron Judge demonstrated his defensive prowess in the fourth inning, making a spectacular catch at the wall to rob Andres Chaparro of a home run, then doubling off James Wood at first base in a crucial double play.

Final Score: The Nationals managed to score in the seventh inning thanks to a solo homer from Juan Yepez, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Yankees’ lead. Chisholm’s late home run in the eighth sealed the win for New York.

Nationals’ Outlook: Despite the loss, Nationals manager Dave Martinez saw positives in his team’s effort. “Teams that we play, they always say the same thing: ‘You guys play hard. You just don’t give up.’ That’s a good thing. Now we’ve just got to understand how to finish these close games,” Martinez said, highlighting the team’s determination and growth potential.

Looking Ahead: Building for the Future

As the Nationals continue to integrate young talent like Dylan Crews into their lineup, the franchise is clearly focused on long-term success. While the immediate challenges of facing powerhouses like the Yankees can be daunting, these experiences are invaluable for the development of Washington’s prospects.

Aaron Judge’s Quest: For the Yankees, Judge’s pursuit of his own home run record will be a story to watch as the season progresses. His leadership and game-changing abilities make him a central figure in New York’s push for postseason success.

Monday night’s game was a glimpse into the future of the Nationals and a reminder of the power and potential that Aaron Judge brings to the Yankees. As both teams continue their seasons, fans can expect more thrilling encounters like this one.