MLB Picks 6/2 – Washington Nationals @ Cleveland Guradians

MLB Picks 6/2 – Washington Nationals @ Cleveland Guradians

by Thomas Quaynor for Wannamakeabet.com

The Washington Nationals (26-31) conclude a three-game series on the road against Cleveland Guardians (39-19) this afternoon at Progressive Field. Cleveland is going for the sweep after winning the opener 7-1 on Friday night and then picking up a 3-2 victory yesterday. Guardians starting pitcher Ben Lively won his career-high fourth straight start after allowing two runs and striking out four batters over 5 2/3 innings in the 3-2 win. Cleveland has won nine straight games at home and improved to an MLB-best 20-6 at home this season. Washington is on the final leg of a seven-game road trip which has seen them go 3-3. They won three of four in Atlanta prior to this series. 

Today’s starters are Jake Irvin (2-5, 3.43 ERA) for Washington and Carlos Carrasco (2-4, 5.16 ERA) for Cleveland.

GAME ODDS

Moneyline:  Washington +128,  Cleveland -152

Run Line:      Washington +1.5 (-166), Cleveland -1.5 (+138)

Run Total:     over 8.5 (-108)   under 8.5 (-112)

GAME STORYLINES: WASHINGTON

After establishing a winning culture in the 2010’s that culminated with a World Series crown in 2019, the Washington Nationals made the decision to slash their enormous payroll and rebuild from scratch during the 2020 season. Washington unloaded stars Trea Turner, Anthony Rendon, Max Scherzer and Juan Soto, each of whom played huge roles in the 2019 World Series victory. The loss of these great players – along with the retirement of Nationals franchise icon/lifer Ryan Zimmerman and chronic injuries to ace Stephen Strasburg – resulted in four consecutive last place finishes in the National League East since winning the 2019 World Series. 

Washington received several talented, young players in return for the stars they jettisoned. Some of these players include starting pitchers Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore, along with shortstop C.J. Abrams. All three guys have become prominent contributors for the Nationals. The 26-year-old Gray – who was part of the trade package from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Trea Turner and Max Scherzer in August 2021 – was named an All-Star last season. He’s been sidelined with a flexor strain in his elbow since April 4.

MLB Picks 6/2 – Washington Nationals @ Cleveland Guradians

Washington appears to be turning things around this season as they were a game over .500 at 19-18 on May 10 and are currently 26-31, which is good for third place in the National League East. Avoiding last place is a big step in the right direction for Washington who is looking to re-establish the raucous crowds and strong fanbase they had during the 2010’s when title-contending teams were the norm. 

Shortstop C.J. Abrams and starting pitcher Trevor Williams have been the standouts for the Nationals in what could be a breakthrough season for the struggling franchise. The 23-year-old Abrams – who was part of the trade package from San Diego for Juan Soto in August 2022– has established as one of the top young players in baseball. He’s hitting .249 with a team-leading 9 homers, 26 RBI and 8 stolen bases across 53 games. The 32-year-old Williams has seemingly come out of nowhere and is having a tremendous season as he is currently 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA and 47:16 KK:BB through 11 starts. He has not allowed more than one earned run in 8 of his 11 starts. Williams had a career 44-54 record over 9 seasons prior to this season.

GAME STORYLINES: CLEVELAND

A season ago, the Cleveland Guardians finished the year with a disappointing 76-86 record. It was the franchise’s worst mark since a 68-94 finish in 2012. The Guardians had won 93 games and the American League Central division by 11 games in 2022. Cleveland has righted the ship this season as they enter today’s game at 39-19, which is the third best record in MLB. The keys to this year’s turnaround are excellent starting pitching and a strong group of hitters at the plate.

Starting pitchers Tanner Bibee (4-1, 3.74 ERA, 69 strikeouts), Logan Allen (6-3, 5.83 ERA) and Ben Lively (5-2, 2.84 ERA) are having fantastic seasons. The 25-year-old star Bibee now anchors the staff in his second MLB season. He’s allowed 2 runs or less in 7 of his 12 starts. Fellow 25-year-old, second-year starter Logan Allen leads the Guardians in wins with 6. The 32-year-old journeyman Lively leads the team in ERA and has won 4 consecutive starts. Lively spent three seasons pitching in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) from 2019-2021 before returning to MLB with Cincinnati Reds organization in 2022. 

MLB Picks 6/2 – Washington Nationals @ Cleveland Guradians

At the plate, superstar third baseman Jose Ramirez is having an MVP season. The 31-year-old, 5-time All-Star is batting .276 with a team-leading 16 homers and 57 RBI, along with 8 stolen bases across 57 games. Ramirez had a fantastic month of May where he hit 11 homers, drove in 33 runs and stole 4 bases. He’s on pace to eclipse the 30-homer mark for the first time since the 2021 season.

First baseman Josh Naylor (.232, 15 HR, 42 RBI) and left fielder Steven Kwan (.365, 3 HR, 12 RBI in 33 games) are also dangerous hitters alongside Jose Ramirez. The 26-year-old Naylor already has 15 homers on the season and is on pace to shatter his career-high mark of 20 which he set in 2022. The 26-year-old Kwan is also having a career year in his third season. He returned to the lineup in Friday’s 7-1 win against Washington after missing nearly a month with a hamstring injury. Kwan went 3-for-4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored verses Washington.

Cleveland suffered a tough blow early in the season when their ace Shane Bieber was lost for the season due to Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The 2020 Cy Young Award winner Bieber underwent the surgery on April 12 after his second start of the year at Seattle on April 2. In his 2 starts this season, Bieber was 2-0 with 20 strikeouts, 1 walk and no runs allowed.          

THE PICK: GUARDIANS (Moneyline)

I’m riding with the hot team at home this afternoon. Take the Guardians on moneyline!

MLB Picks 6/2 – Washington Nationals @ Cleveland Guradians