Washington Nationals at Arizona Diamondbacks 7/22/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

By: Lance |

Last Updated: 07/22/2022 at 11:15 AM ET

The Washington Nationals will open the second-half of their season with a cross country road trip to Chase Field to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Nationals were one of the worst teams in baseball through the first half of the year, they lost nine of their last ten, sit 27.5 games back of the Mets in the NL East race and are all but eliminated from the playoff race. The Diamondbacks have had their own share of struggles, losing seven of ten heading into the break and falling 21 games back in the NL West. 

Washington has struggled at the plate and is 27th in the MLB in scoring offense averaging 3.90 runs per game. Juan Soto, who won the Home Run Derby over the All-Star break, turned down a massive extension from the Nationals and is now rumored to be on the trade block. Soto leads the team with 20 home runs and has driven in 43 runs. It may not be a career year, but it’s yet another solid season from the 23-year-old in his fifth year in the MLB. 

The Diamondbacks had a brutal schedule toward the end of the break, playing back to back road series against the Padres and Giants. This is a much more favorable matchup. The Diamondbacks are 22nd in the league in scoring offense averaging 4.16 runs per game and led by first baseman Christian Walker. Walker leads the team with 22 home runs and 46 RBIs, and is on pace to shatter his career-high of 29 home runs and 73 RBIs.

Neither of these teams have announced a starter for this contest yet, check back for updates. 
 

Washington is in shambles with a generational talent potentially on his way out the door in Juan Soto. Soto continues to prove he’s one of the best in baseball, but the Diamondbacks have been much more well-rounded this season. Neither of these teams are in the playoff hunt, but the Diamondbacks have been solid at home and after a rough end to the first-half of the season they’re able to get back on track on their home-field. Final score prediction, Diamondbacks win 5-3.
 

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