Nationals at Pirates 8/19/19 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Washington Nationals will continue their push toward the postseason, when the visit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night. On Sunday, Washington matched a franchise record with eight home runs during a 16-8 home rout versus Milwaukee. Brian Dozier homered twice and drove in four runs for the Nationals, who sit atop the NL Wild Card standings.

Twenty-six year old righty Joe Ross (3-3 5.91 ERA) will make his fifth start of the season for the Nationals. Control has been an issue for Ross, who has walked 22 batters and given up 48 hits through 42 plus innings. The Pittsburgh Pirates have won just seven games since the All-Star Break and have plummeted into the cellar of the NL Central Division. Last night, Pittsburgh struck out 11 times and walked just once during a 7-1 loss against Chicago. Starling Marte homered in the ninth inning for the Pirates, who fell to 21 games below .500 overall.

The Pirates will counter with twenty-seven year old righty Trevor Williams (5-5 5.25 ERA) on Monday. In his last three starts, Williams has been roughed up for 21 hits and 14 runs across 16 innings of work.