Baltimore Orioles vs Washington Nationals Picks and Predictions August 14th 2024

Enjoying role of spoiler, Nationals take on Orioles

Wednesday’s interleague matchup between the Nationals and Orioles is set to get started at 6:35 PM ET from Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. The Orioles are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -182, while the Nationals are +153 underdogs. The over/under line is currently at 9 runs.

Baltimore will be looking to end a two-game losing streak, while the Nationals are 55-65 this season, which has them in 4th place in the NL East. DJ Herz will start for the Nationals, and he will be facing off against Dean Kremer.

Washington vs. Baltimore Key Information

Teams: Nationals at Orioles
Where: Oriole Park at Camden Yards Baltimore
Date: Wednesday, August 14th
Betting Odds BAL -182 | WSH +153 O/U 9

The Nationals Can Win If…

Washington is sending DJ Herz to the mound today vs. the Orioles, and he comes in with a record of 2-4 and ERA of 4.41. So far this season, Herz has made 11 starts, and he has pitched much better at home, coming in with an ERA of 4.18 compared to 7.25 on the road. In his last outing, Herz finished with a no-decision, giving up two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings of work. Before that, he had gone 5 innings in back-to-back starts. Opponents are batting .243 this season off Herz, and his WHIP is 1.35.

Washington’s offense has been one of the worst home run hitting teams in the league this season and is also near the bottom of the league in terms of slugging percentage and isolated power. However, they have been a good contact team, as they have the 6th fewest strikeouts in the league. Overall, they are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is just 16th in the MLB.

CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia Jr. have been the Nationals’ top power threats this season, as they have 17 and 14 homers, respectively. Both players also come into the game with 59 RBIs. Luis Garcia Jr. has gone deep in one of his last five games while batting .353 in that stretch. Alex Call is also swinging a hot bat, going 9/24 in his last five games.

The Nationals are 6-4 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 6-3-1 in their last ten games.
The Nationals have an average of 5.2 runs per game over their last five games.
Across their last ten road games, the Nationals are 5-5
Looking back across the Nationals last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
Washington has gone 3-0 in their last three games as the underdog
In their ten most recent road games, the Nationals have averaged 6.2 runs per game on offense

The Orioles Can Win If…

Right-hander Dean Kremer is on the mound for the Orioles today as he faces the Nationals at home. He has made 16 starts this season and has a record of 4-9 with a 4.70 ERA. Kremer’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.29. Looking back at his last outing, Kremer took the loss after giving up five earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of work. He has lost each of his last four starts. Kremer’s ERA at home is 6.07 compared to 4.67 on the road.

Heading into today’s game, the Orioles are the top home run hitting team in the league and are also 3rd in runs scored, averaging 5 runs per game. Overall, they are batting .256 as a team, which is 4th in the league, and have the top slugging percentage in the league. Baltimore’s offense has been even better on the road this season, averaging 5.3 runs per contest.

Anthony Santander has been the Orioles’ top power threat this season, as his 36 home runs are the 3rd most in the league. However, he has struggled of late, hitting just .182 over his last eight games. Gunnar Henderson comes into the game with a team-best batting average of .287 and has 29 homers of his own, which is 2nd on the team.

The Orioles are 5-5 in their last ten games.
Over their last five games, the Orioles are 2-3 vs. the run line.
Baltimore has an over/under record of 7-3 in their last ten games.
The Orioles have an average of 4.2 runs per game over their last five games.
Across their last ten home games, the Orioles are 5-5
Looking back across the Orioles last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
Baltimore has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
In their ten most recent road games, the Orioles have averaged 5.0 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean would be to take the over. We have this as the 10th highest-scoring game of the day, and the 4th lowest combined hits total. As for who is going to take this one straight-up, we like the Orioles to come out on top. Looking at today’s starters, we have Dean Kremer as the better innings eater over DJ Herz, who has the highest strikeout projection among today’s starters.

The Washington Nationals may not be packed with seasoned veterans, but their recent performances against playoff-bound teams have been nothing short of impressive. As they prepare to face the Baltimore Orioles again on Wednesday night in Baltimore, the Nationals are riding high on a wave of momentum, hoping to continue their streak of upsets.

Nationals’ Surge Continues

The Nationals’ recent 9-3 victory over the Orioles on Tuesday night showcased their ability to punch above their weight. In a game where they racked up 14 hits, Washington’s offense was propelled by contributions from emerging stars. Rookie James Wood led the charge with four hits, while Andres Chaparro, in his big-league debut, stunned with three doubles.

“This is how you start a career,” Wood said of Chaparro, who finally made his MLB debut after eight seasons in the minor leagues and over 625 professional games. “He was a huge presence in the middle of our lineup and really gave our offense a boost.”

This recent success has become a pattern for the Nationals under manager Dave Martinez. The team has won three of its last four games, often relying on new faces to step up. Chaparro might just be the latest in a line of rookies making significant contributions.

“He put together some really solid at-bats,” Martinez praised Chaparro after the game.

Spoiling Playoff Hopes

Since the All-Star break, Washington has taken down a series of playoff contenders, including the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds. Now, they have their sights set on adding the Orioles—one of the American League’s top teams—to their list of conquests.

James Wood, who has already notched two four-hit games in his debut season, attributes his recent success to a more focused approach. “I feel like I’m stepping up to the plate with a clearer plan and goal, and that’s made all the difference,” Wood explained.

Orioles Looking for Answers

The Orioles, meanwhile, are trying to snap a two-game losing streak. Consistency has been a major issue for Baltimore, particularly when it comes to limiting the damage done by opposing offenses.

“We’re really inconsistent,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde admitted. “We’re giving up way too many runs.”

Baltimore will be sending right-hander Dean Kremer (4-9, 4.70 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday. Kremer is looking to break out of a slump that has seen him lose five straight decisions in his last six outings. While he has struggled recently, Kremer has had success against the Nationals in the past, going 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA in two career starts against Washington.

On the other side, the Nationals will counter with rookie left-hander DJ Herz (2-4, 4.41 ERA), who is seeking his first road victory. Herz has shown promise but struggled in his last outing, lasting just 2 2/3 innings while allowing two runs on four hits and four walks against the San Francisco Giants.

Orioles’ Offensive Woes

While the Orioles were seen as an offensive juggernaut earlier in the season, they’ve hit a rough patch lately. Despite Anthony Santander setting a team record with 36 home runs, the team has struggled to maintain consistent offensive production.

“We’re not moving the line offensively enough,” Hyde noted, referring to the team’s recent struggles at the plate. “Our swings can get really big at times, and we need to improve on that.”

Baltimore has been only average at home since the All-Star break, going 4-4 in their last eight games at Camden Yards. They now face the challenge of overcoming a Nationals team that has won two of the three meetings between the teams this year.

Conclusion

As the Nationals and Orioles prepare to clash again, Washington is clearly relishing its role as a spoiler. With emerging talent like James Wood and Andres Chaparro stepping up, the Nationals are poised to make things difficult for any team with playoff aspirations. Meanwhile, the Orioles must find a way to regain their early-season form, particularly in pitching and offensive consistency, if they hope to stay in the playoff hunt.

Wednesday night’s matchup promises to be another intriguing chapter in this late-season battle, with both teams eager to prove their mettle.

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