The Washington Nationals host the Colorado Rockies in the second game of their series at Nationals Park on Tuesday. The Nationals have been streaking in the right direction of late, while the Rockies have been caught in a tailspin, winning only eight times in their last 31 games. <\/p>\n
Colorado Rockies (36-47) at Washington Nationals (44-38)<\/strong>
\nDate: Tuesday, July 1, 2014<\/strong>
\nTime: 7:05 p.m. ET<\/strong>
\nVenue: Nationals Park<\/strong>
\nCity: Washington, D.C.<\/strong>
\nO\/U Odds: 7.5<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: Washington -220, Colorado +200<\/strong>
\nPitching Matchup: LH Christian Friedrich (0-2, 8.10 ERA) at RH Stephen Strasburg (6-6, 3.70 ERA)<\/strong>
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Stephen Strasburg gets the call for the Nationals in this one. He\u2019s endured some struggles over his last few outings, dropping each of his last three starts. In those outings, he hasn\u2019t been as effective as we\u2019re used to seeing him.<\/p>\n
Strasburg allowed 14 runs on 24 hits, four of which left the part, lasting only 17 1\/3 innings in those three outings. The worst of the bunch came in his last start when he surrendered seven runs, all of them earned in a start against the Milwaukee Brewers.<\/p>\n
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Luckily for Strasburg, he\u2019ll be returning home to make this start, and his teammates have been spotting him plenty of runs when he takes the hill at Nationals Park. In his last three starts there, the Nationals have score 21 runs, good for an average of 7.0 per game.
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\nThe Nats have a good chance of continuing to positively back their ace on Tuesday when they step into the batter\u2019s box and see Christian Friedrich toeing the rubber. Friedrich has made two starts since returning to the bigs, lasting 10 innings in those outings.<\/p>\nThat\u2019s just about where the positives end for Friedrich, as he\u2019s allowed 14 runs and 20 baserunners in those outings.<\/p>\n
After allowing nine runs in six innings of work at home against the Milwaukee Brewers, he went on the road to face that same Brewers team, and was only able to last four innings, this time giving up five runs, all of them earned.<\/p>\n
Strasburg has plenty of tools, and can look downright dominant at times, but to lay a price like this with a pitcher as inconsistent as he is would be silly, even though the Rockies have been lousy of late, losing 23 of their last 31 games, and 11 of Friedrich\u2019s last 12 starts, dating back to his first go-around with the club in 2012.<\/p>\n
As for the total, that\u2019s a sharper play. Friedrich is a gas can, and giving him any credit because of which hand he picks the ball up with would be foolish. The guy simply can\u2019t get major league hitters out with regularity.<\/p>\n
As for Strasburg, he\u2019ll be facing a good Rockies lineup that can score runs, and while they may not light up the scoreboard, they won\u2019t have to with this low total.<\/p>\n
The over is 14-3-3 in the Rockies\u2019 last 20 games overall, and 13-3-1 in their last 16 road games.<\/p>\n