<p>
With a win to open this series Friday night, the Nationals continue to strengthen their playoff positioning and make ground in their divisional race. Washington shoots for more of the same when it takes on the Brewers for Game 2 of this series Saturday evening in DC. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
</p>
<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
</h2>
<p>
As of this writing, Saturday's MLB betting odds were holding off on lining this game, perhaps waiting for word on the status of Milwaukee OF Christian Yelich, who missed recent action with a sore back, then slumped upon his return.
</p>
<div class="panel">
<strong>Get your Brewers at Nationals MLB Bets </strong> down at a betting site where they will match your deposit up to $1000. That's $1000 free added to your betting account at this solid sportsbook! Check them out --> <a class="advblue" href="javascript:GoTo(Mybookie)" title="MyBookie">MyBookie Sportsbook</a>
</div>
<h2>
Brewers vs. Nationals Set-Up<br />
</h2>
<p>
Washington took the opener of this series Friday night 2-1, winning as a -150 favorite on the MLB betting line. That game was tied at 1-1 into the bottom of the eighth inning when the Nationals pushed across a run against the Milwaukee bullpen, then held on from there.
</p>
<p>
With Friday's victory, Washington now owns a five-game winning streak. At 66-55 overall the Nationals now trail first-place Atlanta by just 4.5 games in the NL East, and they lead the NL wild-card race by 2.5 games over Philadelphia and the Cubs.
</p>
<p>
With Friday's loss, the Brewers are just 1-3 over their last four games. At 63-59 overall Milwaukee trails first-place St. Louis by two games in the NL Central, but it's only one game back of the Phillies and Cubs in the battle for that second National League wild-card spot.
</p>
<p>
This series is the second meeting between these teams this season; back in May, the Brewers swept three games from the Nats at Miller Park.
</p>
<h2>
Saturday's Starting Arms<br />
</h2>
<p>
<a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/39536&quot; title="Anibel Sanchez Pitching Logs">Sanchez</a>, by our stringent standards, is 8/22 on quality starts this season, and two for his last four. Last Sunday he gave up three runs and seven hits through five innings of a 7-4 Washington win over the Mets. And over his last four starts, he's allowed ten runs – nine earned – and 24 hits through 23 innings.
</p>
<p>
On the season the Nationals are 12-10 with Sanchez, 2-0 over his last two starts.
</p>
<p>
In his most recent outing against Milwaukee, back in July of last season when he was still with Atlanta, Sanchez allowed just one run and two hits through 6 2/3 innings of a 5-1 Braves victory.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/40165&quot; title="Jordan Lyles Pitching Logs">Lyles</a> is just 6/20 on quality starts this year, 1/3 since joining the Brewers in a trade with Pittsburgh. But he's been a lot better for his new team than he was late in his stint with the Pirates. Last Sunday he held the Rangers to one run and three hits through seven innings, although Milwaukee lost that game 1-0. And over his three starts for the Brewers he's allowed just five runs – three earned – and eight hits through 17 innings.
</p>
<p>
Pittsburgh, a team that's 19 games under .500, went 8-9 with Lyles earlier this season, and Milwaukee is 2-1 with him.
</p>
<p>
This start will be Lyles' first against Washington since 2012 when he was with Houston, and that's like 100 years ago.
</p>
<h2>
Saturday's Batting Splits<br />
</h2>
<p>
Milwaukee is batting .249/.331/.446 against right-handed pitching this season.
</p>
<p>
Washington is batting .251/.329/.429 against righties this season.
</p>
<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
</h2>
<p>
The Brewers bullpen owns a 4.54 ERA this season and a 1.33 WHIP while allowing a .724 OPS.
</p>
<p>
The Nationals pen owns a 5.98 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP while allowing an .811 OPS. Numbers like those “help” this unit rank among the worst two or three bullpens in Baseball. However, Washington relievers have been better lately, and they threw three scoreless innings Friday night.
</p>
<h2>
Totals Report<br />
</h2>
<ul>
<li>
Unders are 63-55 in Brewers games this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders are 60-55 in Nationals games this season.
</li>
<li>
Totals are split 29-29 in games played at Nationals Park this season.
</li>
<li>
Totals are split 2-2 in Brewers-Nationals games this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders are a combined 25-17 with Sanchez and Lyles this season.
</li>
</ul>
<p><section></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href=" https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1082458">Brewers at Nationals MLB Match-up Stats</a> </span>
</li>
</ul>
<p></section></p>