Have you checked out WinView Games yet?  If you have, that’s great but if you haven’t then today is the day to download the app and try it out.  WinView Games is running a $1,000 GPP contests for the 1st inning of tonight’s nationally televised game between the Washington Nationals and New York Yankees.  This contest costs just $10 to play and awards $200 to first place.  Do you want to play these contests for free? Well you can by downloading the app through www.fantasyalarm.com/wvgames and when you deposit $20 you will get $20 free in your account.

Not familiar with how to play WinView MLB contests?  Well check out these strategy articles:

 

Washington Nationals (36-28) vs New York Yankees (43-19)

New York Yankees -180; Total: 9.5

The Yankees took Game 1 of this mini two-game series 3-0 on Tuesday behind 5.2 shutout innings by CC Sabathia.  Didi Gregorius broke out of his slump by hitting two solo home runs off Nationals starter Tanner Roark who allowed three runs over six innings of work.  Wednesday’s nationally televised game will feature Sonny Gray taking the mound for the Yankees vs Nationals starter Erick Fedde who will be making his fifth career start; second of 2018.

 

Offensive Rankings

Washington Nationals

  • Washington ranks 18th in runs scored vs right-handed pitching this season
  • Washington ranks 11th in home runs vs right-handed pitching this season
  • Washington ranks 24th in team batting average vs right-handed pitching this season
  • Washington ranks 17th in team OPS vs right-handed pitching this season
  • Washington has struck out the second fewest times vs right-handed pitching this season

Players to Watch

Erick Fedde - Fedde is the top pitching prospect in the Nationals farm system.  He has had a tough go at Triple-A this season, going 3-2 with a 4.76 ERA over 11 starts.  He has made one start with the Nationals this season in which he allowed three earned runs on six hits over 5.2 innings.  He made three starts for Washington last season and was shelled, going 0-3 with a 9.39 ERA after allowing 16 runs over 15.1 innings.

Bryce Harper - Harper was forced from Tuesday’s game after getting hit by a pitch so he should be considered questionable for tonight’s contest.  His absence from the Nats lineup tonight would be a big blow, especially given the location as left-handed power hitters tend to thrive at Yankee Stadium thanks to the short right field porch. When on the field this season Harper has had some tough luck at times as he is hitting just .228 on the year but with a career low .216 BABIP.  The power numbers and run production are still elite as his 18 home runs lead the National League.

Trea Turner - The .254 batting average leaves much to be desired but his seven home runs and 18 stolen bases are right in line with expectations as he should flirt with being a 20/40 player come seasons end.  Turner has hit six of his seven home runs off right-handed pitching this season and has a slightly better average and OPS vs righties this season as well.  This should be a solid matchup for him as well with Sonny Gray struggling at home and against right-handed hitters on the year.

Adam Eaton - Eaton has two hits in eight career at bats against Sonny Gray .  He is also 2-for-8 since coming off the disabled list.  When healthy this season Eaton was hitting .345 with two home runs and five RBI.  Over the last three seasons Eaton is hitting .407 (11-27) with an OPS of 1.077 when playing in Yankee Stadium.

Daniel Murphy - Murphy made his 2018 debut on Tuesday and though he went 0-for-4 it is still a big deal to see him back in that Nationals lineup.  Washington has the advantage of playing in the American League ballpark because it allows them DH Murphy.  Murphy provides the Nationals with yet another left-handed power bat that could cause problems for Gray tonight.

New York Yankees

  • New York ranks second in runs scored vs right-handed pitching this season
  • New York ranks second in home runs vs right-handed pitching this season
  • New York ranks 11th in team batting average vs right-handed pitching this season
  • New York ranks second in team OPS vs right-handed pitching this season
  • New York has struck out the ninth most times vs right-handed pitching this season

Players to Watch

Sonny Gray - Gray has had a tough season but he is starting to turn it around, posting a 2.45 ERA over his last four starts while striking out 26 over 25.2 innings.  The Nationals have a lot of power in their lineup and a returning Daniel Murphy does make them much more potent but overall this season they have struggled at the plate against right-handed pitching.  If Harper is not in today’s lineup after exiting yesterday’s game with an injury that will give a bigger boost to Gray in this matchup, especially the first inning where Harper typically bats second or third.

Aaron Judge - Judge is in a bit of a slump right now, hitting just .147 with three home runs during the month of June but he is hitting .348 at home this season with 12 home runs so maybe he can turn that slump around tonight.  The Nationals are calling up prospect Erick Fedde to make a start on Wednesday and he has struggled this season at Triple-A and has not had success in four career major league starts either.

Didi Gregorius - Didi is glad the month of May is over as he is hitting .286 in June and over the last week he is hitting .300.  Didi homered twice last night off Tanner Roark and it’s not too much of a reach to suggest he could repeat that performance tonight against Nationals starter Erick Fedde who has allowed five home runs in four career major league starts.

Giancarlo Stanton - This season continues to be ugly for Stanton as he is hitting just .105 over the last week with his only two hits going for home runs.  He is just 8-for-40 (.200) with four home runs during the month of June.  He is also hitting just .200 with six home runs at Yankee Stadium this season.  The only upside for Stanton tonight is the fact that he will be facing a pitcher that has not shown any amount of success at the major league level and is struggling in Triple-A this season as well.

Pre-Game Props

Q1: Either team scores in the 1st inning

I am not sure how you say no to this prop given the pitching matchup and these two offenses in Yankee Stadium no less.  I am going YES and I might even use my One-Shot 1,000 point wager for this prop.  The Yankees are sending Sonny Gray and his 7.22 home ERA on the year.  The Nationals are sending rookie Erick Fedde to the mound who has an 8.14 ERA over four career major league starts.  This game has a 9.5 run total and I predict those runs come early.

Q2: Any batter reaches a full count in the 1st inning

I am going to go with a NO for this prop.  I think these hitters will be swinging early and often.  I would be surprised to see a full count here.

Q3: Either team has a three-up and three-down 1st inning

I am going with a NO here.  As I explained in the props above, I am expecting some runs to be scored by both teams here in the 1st inning and for that to happen neither team can go in down in order.

Q4: New York Yankees record one or more strikeout in the 1st inning

This one is a little tougher for me but I will go with NO as I don’t think Gray records a strikeout in the 1st inning.  The Nationals due have some strikeout prone hitters but I don’t think either pitcher finds success today and the outs are made by balls in play.

Q5: A Washington batter reaches scoring position in the 1st inning.

I am going to go with YES for this prop.  I can easily see Adam Eaton or Trea Turner getting on base and finding themselves on second pretty quickly.  I am not high on the starting pitchers in this matchup so anything that could lead to runs I am going to be a yes on.

Q6: The New York Yankees record the first two outs of the 1st inning in 10 or fewer pitches.

Uhh NOPE, I am expecting this to be a long day for Sonny Gray so I can’t then say he will get the first two outs in 10 or fewer pitches.  Sticking with my narrative of both these starters getting rocked.

Q7: The leadoff hitter for the Nationals reaches base in the first inning.

So this will either be Adam Eaton or Trea Turner but either way I am going to go with YES.  I think the Nationals jump out to an early lead with Eaton or Turner scoring that first run.