Entering play on Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals both would be in the playoffs, so Friday’s showdown in D.C. could be an October preview.
Aside from one bad start on June 28 in Colorado, the Dodgers’ Hyun-jin Ryu has been nearly untouchable this season. It has been the only start in which he has given up more than two earned runs. Taking out that start, he has given up one home run in 91²/₃ innings since May began.
The Nationals’ Anibal Sanchez was awful to begin the year, but in his past 12 starts, he has a 2.73 ERA and is issuing fewer than three walks per nine innings, and teams are hitting .219 off of him. In addition, each of his past four starts have stayed Under the total.
The Nationals entered Thursday on a 12-of-15 Under streak, while the Dodgers have the top team ERA in the majors and a starting pitcher who is having one of the best seasons this decade. This should lead to a low-scoring night.
The play: Dodgers-Nationals, Under nine runs.