The Nationals are just 5-5 in their last 10, no doubt a product of having wrapped up the NL East by 20+ games. Is it enough of a slide to wager on the Mets at just +125 Friday night however? Not really, because New York has dropped three in a row and hasn’t beaten a team not named the Atlanta Braves in two weeks. There is a strong play for the 9/22 free MLB pick on the total however.
9/22 Free MLB Pick – Pitching Matchup
Taking the mound for the Nationals is Edwin Jackson (5-6, 4.96). The veteran right hander has struggled since the Calendar turned to September. In his last three starts he’s been unable to pitch out of the sixth inning, giving up at least 5ER in each. The last two outings have been especially bad – giving up 5ER in 3.1 IP in a loss to Philadelphia on September 9th and a 2.1 IP start allowing 7ER last time out against the Dodgers.
Jackson has had success pitching against the Mets however. New York batters have faced him 93 times, getting only 21 hits (.226). Asdrubal Cabrera has struck out 8 times in 28 career AB against Jackson.
Also, for the record, it's absolutely going to be Edwin Jackson because I really pissed someone off in a past life.
— Kate Feldman (@kateefeldman) September 21, 2017
Taking the hill for the Mets is Robert Gsellman (7-7, 5.22). The right-hander has had an up and down rookie campaign but had one of his best outings of the year last time out. He held the Braves to 3 hits and 0ER over 7.0 IP on September 17th. Gsellman failed to get out of the 4th inning in 2 of 3 starts prior to that, but he is 2-1 in September.
Gsellman has made two starts against Washington this season and they haven’t been pretty. On June 15th the Nationals tagged the pitcher for 7ER on 11 hits in just five innings. August 26th wasn’t much better for the pitcher as he gave up 6ER on 9 hits in just 4.0 IP. In total, Washington has batted a collective .420 against Gsellman and have an OPS of 1.076.
WHAT THE HELL @robgsellman WAS SUPPOSED TO PITCH ON FIREWORKS NIGHT. TWO OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IN ONE PLACE ON ONE NIGHT ????????????
— Teresa Bellantoni (@teresaaxmariee) September 22, 2017
9/22 Free MLB Pick Total Play
Tonight’s line has Washington as a very valuable -129 play. It opened at the Mets -140 but has shifted with 71% of the public taking the seemingly easy Nationals play. Jackson has struggled however but Gsellman is no sure bet either.
The ‘over’ has hit in just 2 of the last 7 Washington games – but they have scored 7 runs on their own in 2 of the last 4. The Mets have given up 13, 5, and 9 runs in their last 3 outings. The combined runs scored the last four Gsellman starts have been 13,9,11, and 6 While Jackson’s have been 11,9,9, and 7.
The wind is blowing in significantly at Citi Field at 14 MPH. With two struggling pitchers however, the weather shouldn’t be enough of a hindrance on our selected total.
Pick: Washington / New York ‘Over’ 9
