MLB picks: Dodgers vs. Nationals, Marlins vs. Braves

We scanned the MLB slate for Friday night and came up with two moneyline value plays!

The first occurs in our nation’s capital, as the Los Angeles Dodgers will visit the Washington Nationals. Then we’ll segue to a meeting between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves.

Los Angeles Dodgers (50-31) at Washington Nationals (40-39), 7:05 p.m. ET

The Nationals should reward their backers as a slight home underdog.

Julio Urias starts for L.A., and nothing has been easy for him lately. He has run high pitch counts and struggled to close out the sixth inning. Urias owns a 6.00 ERA and 1.600 WHIP over his last three outings.

The southpaw is likely to encounter trouble early, as Washington is second in OPS against lefties (.875) over the last two weeks. Starlin Castro, Trea Turner, and Ryan Zimmerman are a combined 9-for-15 (.600) all-time against Urias. And with the way Kyle Schwarber is hitting (16 homers since June 12), no pitcher can rest easy.

Max Scherzer will counter for the Nats, and the NL Cy Young contender has been practically untouchable at home this year, with a 1.96 ERA and .162 opponent batting average. The Dodgers are batting a collective .132 against Scherzer all-time (82 at-bats), and Cody Bellinger’s 1-for-11 mark stands out.

MLB pick: Nationals +104

Miami Marlins (34-45) at Atlanta Braves (39-41), 7:20 p.m. ET

The Braves should have some spring in their step, following a 20-run outburst and a miraculous walkoff win against Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets over the last two nights. Bettors should expect that momentum to carry over, as Pablo Lopez and the Marlins come to town.

Lopez (4-4, 2.87 ERA) has had a solid season, save for two disastrous outings against Atlanta. He owns a horrific 12.86 ERA and .417 opponent batting average over just seven innings against this lineup. Ronald Acuna Jr. and walkoff hero Freddie Freeman are a combined 15-for-44 (.341) all-time against the Venezuelan.

A suddenly surging Drew Smyly will be on the mound for the Braves, fresh off a 2.84 ERA for the month of June (five starts). That included five innings of two-run ball against the Marlins. Smyly has a three-game streak without allowing a home run going, and he should make it four against the power-starved Fish, who are 27th in homers in 2021.

MLB pick: Braves -127