Diamondbacks vs Nationals Picks and Prediction – 6/8/2023

In Thursday afternoon MLB action, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Washington Nationals wrap up their series from the nation’s capital. The Diamondbacks (37-25) have won eight of their last ten games and have surged two games ahead of Los Angeles for the top spot in the NL West Division. Last night, OF Corbin Carroll homered as part of a four-hit night and scored three runs to lead Arizona to a 6-2 road victory.

Thirty-four year old righty Merrill Kelly (7-3 2.80 ERA) will take the mound for the Diamondbacks in this matchup. Arizona has won Kelly’s last four starts and he has allowed just seven runs (6 ER) across his last 25 plus frames.

The Washington Nationals are in the midst of a four-game losing streak and are trapped in the NL East Division basement. On Wednesday, Washington batters left six men on base and were retired by strikes 11 times. SP Patrick Corbin (4-6) gave up three runs in six innings and took the loss for the Nationals (25-36), who fell to 12-21 at home. 

Twenty-five year old righty Josiah Gray (4-5 3.09 ERA) is being counted on as one of the core pieces in Washington’s rebuilding effort. The Nationals have won four of Gray’s last five starts and he has allowed 11 runs (10 ER) over his last 28 plus innings.