Kansas City Royals vs. Washington Nationals – Prediction, MLB Tips, 9/24/24

Betting preview for the Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals are 69-87 this year and have lost six of their last seven games. Washington just lost a series against the Cubs in which they lost three of four games. Before this series, the Nationals lost all three to the Mets, won three of four games against the Marlins, and split two games with the Braves. Washington is 5-9 in their last 14 games and is fourth in the NL East.

Washington's pitchers have a 4.34 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP and a .260 opponent batting average. The Nationals' offense has scored 638 runs with a .243 batting average and a .309 on-base percentage. Luis Garcia has a .281 batting average with 16 home runs and 65 RBIs for the Nationals this season.

Starting pitchers

The projected starting pitcher for Kansas City is Cole Ragans, who is 11-9, 3.24 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 180.1 innings pitched this season. Ragans has allowed two or fewer earned runs in three consecutive starts. The projected starting pitcher for Washington is Mitchell Parker, who is 7-10, 4.44 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 146.0 innings pitched this year. Parker has allowed at least four earned runs in two of his last three starts, but went 6.1 innings with no earned runs in his last home start.

Why the Nationals will beat the Royals

• The Royals have lost each of their last seven games.
• The Nationals have won their last four games as underdogs after losing to American League opponents.
• The Nationals have covered the run line after a loss in each of their last eight home games against American League opponents.
• As away favorites, the Royals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last nine Tuesday games.
• The Nationals have led after five innings in each of their last five games at Nationals Park.
• The Nationals have been ahead after 3 innings in each of their last three home games.

Facts about the total number of runs

• In each of the Nationals' last four games as underdogs against American League opponents, the run totals have been DIFFERENT.
• Five of the Royals' last six games as away favorites have been UNDER the total number of runs.
• The 1 Inning UNDER 0.5 Runs market has won each of the Nationals' last four games as an underdog at home against AL Central opponents.

Facts about the Washington Nationals player props

• Keibert Ruiz has scored a brace in three of his last four home appearances.
• Jacob Young has scored at least one run in five of the Nationals' last six home games against AL opponents.
• Jacob Young has singled in each of the Nationals' last four games at Nationals Park.
• Ildemaro Vargas has scored at least one goal in seven of his last eight appearances after not playing the previous day.
• Joey Meneses has had at least one RBI in four of the Nationals' last five home games against AL Central opponents.
• Joey Meneses has two or more total bases in each of the Nationals' last five games against AL Central opponents at Nationals Park.
• Luis Garcia has hit a home run in three of the Nationals' last six home games against AL Central opponents who held a winning record.

Facts about the Kansas City Royals player props

• Salvador Perez has doubled in each of the Royals' last three games as favorites against opponents from the NL East region.
• Bobby Witt Jr. has hit a home run in each of the Royals' last two games as away favorites against NL opponents.
• Paul DeJong has scored at least one run in six of his previous seven appearances with his team as the away favorite against the Nationals.
• Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last five road appearances against NL opponents.
• Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 13 road appearances against opponents with a losing record.
• Vinnie Pasquantino has scored at least one goal in each of his last 13 away games against opponents with a losing record.
• Vinnie Pasquantino has hit at least one single in 10 of his last 11 road appearances against opponents with a losing record.

Prediction for Kansas City Royals vs Washington Nationals

Kansas City enters this series looking to end a seven-game losing streak and is now tied with Detroit for the second wild-card spot in the AL. The Royals are just a few games out of the playoffs, so they'll have to find their feet quickly. KC is 37-38 on the road this year, while Washington is 36-39 at home. Cole Ragans is the better starting pitcher in this matchup, but the Royals are just 1-3 in his last four starts and haven't been particularly good on the road. Take the Nationals at home here.