Free MLB Picks Today: Philadelphia Phillies vs Washington Nationals 7/1/23

The Philadelphia Phillies (43-38) host the Washington Nationals (33-48) at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday. The Nationals took Friday’s series opener 2-1, their second head-to-head victory in four games this season.

Starter Josiah Gray went six innings for the win, giving up one run on six hits and striking out eight, and Hunter Harvey earned his seventh save with a scoreless ninth.

Stone Garrett was 2 for 4 with a home run and a double in the win. He drove in two runs. Alec Bohm went 2 for 4 with a double and one RBI for the Phillies.

ON THE MOUND

MacKenzie Gore (4-6, 3.89 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Washington. The LHP allowed one run over five innings in his last start, an 8-3 home win over the Padres on Sunday. He earned the win, giving up five hits while striking out nine and walking two.

Gore has made one previous start against the Phillies this season, a 4-2 home loss on June 3. He surrendered three runs on nine hits over six innings, striking out six.

Righty Zack Wheeler (6-4, 3.76 ERA) will toe the rubber for Philadelphia. He has made one prior start against the Nationals this season, giving up seven runs over 3.2 innings in an 8-7 road defeat on June 2.

He gave up eight hits and walked one while striking out three in the no-decision. In his last start on Sunday, Wheeler took a no-decision at home against the Mets. He threw 5.1 innings and gave up five runs on nine hits, striking out eight and walking two in the 7-6 victory.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Washington has averaged 5.0 runs a game, a small gain compared to their season average of 4.1. Against right-handed pitchers like Wheeler this season, the Nats have a .687 OPS.

Jeimer Candelario is the team’s most potent producer against right-handers with a .887 OPS in 201 at-bats. Philadelphia is averaging 4.8 runs per game in the last five, up slightly from 4.4 for the season.

The Phils have a .731 OPS against lefties in 2023. With a .955 OPS over 84 at-bats, Nick Castellanos has been their best hitter against left-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Washington is on a three-game winning streak in road games, bringing their record to 20-21 in 2023. The Nats have scored 4.6 runs per game away from home while allowing 4.4 runs.

Philadelphia has gone 21-15 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 4.2 runs per game while surrendering 3.8. In the last 10 games at Citizens Bank Park between the NL East rivals, Philadelphia is 8-2 with an average scoreline of 6.4-3.3.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Nationals are fifth in the NL East, 21 games behind the division-leading Braves. The Phillies are third in the NL East, 11 games behind the Braves.