According to the latest Nationals odds, it will not be Washington who starts their season at Nationals Park on July 23 as the favorites to win the 2020 World Series.
GambetDC, the DC Lottery’s platform, considers the New York Yankees as the top World Series contenders for the team Washington is hosting that day. However, with the release of the updated MLB schedule, other betting lines at GambetDC have undergone changes.
Nationals odds for Opening Day 2020
On July 23 at 7:08 p.m. ET, the highly anticipated MLB Opening Day 2020 will feature an exciting matchup between the Nats and Yankees. This game will provide bettors with their initial glimpse of the defending World Series champions and the frontrunners for the title this year, assuming no changes are made to the schedule.
In the moneyline market offered by GambetDC, Washington is considered a slight home underdog with odds of -105. On the other hand, New York is favored to win the game with odds of -154.
At GambetDC, you can explore various spread and total markets. For instance, placing a bet on either under 5.5 or over 9.5 total runs in the game will result in an equal payout of +170.
The sportsbook provides prop wagers for the first inning and the first five innings, including a three-way moneyline bet to predict the team leading after the first inning. Placing a bet on the Nationals to lead after one inning offers odds of +330.
Handicapping the contest at this stage proves to be a difficult task. It requires bettors to assess the preparedness of important players from both teams and heavily relies on the overall health of the rosters.
Despite both teams not announcing their starting pitcher for the game, it is widely anticipated that Gerrit Cole will face off against Max Scherzer. However, there is a level of uncertainty regarding their performance due to their extended time off the mound.
This also applies to the batters they are going to encounter and the defenses supporting them. Rust is a significant factor that will be difficult to consider in all betting markets, especially at the beginning of the season.
One additional element that could impact this game is the introduction of a designated hitter in Washington’s home ballpark for the first time. The impact on the team’s run production remains uncertain due to limited available data.
The empty stadium effect should not be overlooked by bettors. It might be challenging to anticipate its impact on the game’s outcome, especially at the beginning of the season.
The long-term destiny of Washington’s 2020 season may also be influenced by these factors. While GambetDC does not anticipate a repeat of 2019, it does rely on the Nationals to be a contender in the postseason.
Washington World Series and other futures markets
Following the release of the schedule, GambetDC has ranked the Nats as the third team with the lowest odds among National League teams to clinch the 2020 World Series. The current lineup for GambetDC is as follows:
| Franchise | Line | Franchise | Line | Franchise | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yankees | +360 | Dodgers | +360 | Astros | +625 |
| Braves | +1200 | Twins | +1300 | Nationals | +1550 |
| Rays | +1600 | Mets | +2000 | Cardinals | +2000 |
| Phillies | +2100 | Indians | +2300 | Cubs | +2400 |
| Athletics | +2400 | Reds | +2400 | Brewers | +2500 |
| Red Sox | +2600 | White Sox | +2900 | Angels | +2900 |
| Padres | +3900 | Diamondbacks | +4400 | Rangers | +6900 |
| Blue Jays | +6900 | Rockies | +14900 | Pirates | +24900 |
| Giants | +24900 | Mariners | +34900 | Tigers | +49900 |
| Marlins | +49900 | Royals | +49900 | Orioles | +49900 |
In a similar vein, the Nationals find themselves with the third-lowest chances of winning the NL pennant for the second consecutive year, standing at +725 odds. Unfortunately, history does not appear to be in Washington’s favor.
The Dodgers achieved the remarkable feat of winning consecutive NL pennants in 2017 and 2018, breaking a nearly decade-long dry spell for NL teams. Adding to the challenge for Washington, no team has managed to win back-to-back World Series titles since the Yankees accomplished the feat from 1998 to 2000.
GambetDC considers the Atlanta Braves more likely to win the World Series, NL championship, and the NL East division crown compared to the Nationals, as evidenced by the sportsbook’s favoring of Atlanta in all these categories. In the NL East division crown market, the Nationals have a +240 position.
However, this doesn’t imply that the lottery’s sports betting site predicts Washington to have a complete downfall. Currently, the line for the Nationals’ total wins in the regular season is set at 33.5, with a more favorable bet of -105 on the over.
There is uncertainty regarding whether 34 wins would secure a wild card spot if the Braves win the division. Nonetheless, what is definite is that GambetDC holds a high regard for Juan Soto, the young outfielder of the Nationals.
Nationals player prop bets for the 2020 MLB season
As of now, Soto’s odds on the app to win the 2020 NL MVP award are +950. There are only a few players with better odds than him.
- Ronald Acuña Jr.
- Cody Bellinger
- Mookie Betts
- Christian Yelich
Soto’s fellow teammates, including Adam Eaton, Victor Robles, Scherzer, and Trea Turner, are also present in the field for that market. Currently, the evaluations and predictions for these players vary greatly.
| Player | To Win 2020 NL MVP |
|---|---|
| Max Scherzer | +3900 |
| Trea Turner | +8900 |
| Adam Eaton | +14900 |
| Victor Robles | +14900 |
Given Scherzer’s impressive background, it comes as no surprise that he is considered one of the top contenders for this year’s NL Cy Young award. With odds of +560, Scherzer is second only to Jacob deGrom in the race.
If bettors are not interested in Scherzer winning his third NL Cy Young award, they can consider his top two rotation-mates as alternatives. Stephen Strasburg has odds of +1200 to win the award, while GambetDC places Patrick Corbin at +1850 in the same category.
When it comes to pitching markets, the sportsbook offers odds of +2300 for Washington closer Sean Doolittle to lead the entire baseball league in saves. Additionally, Scherzer’s odds of leading baseball in strikeouts are +575.
Soto has a strong chance to excel in MLB runs scored, making him a valuable option in Nats player props. At +1500 odds, he presents an enticing opportunity. In the previous season, Soto showcased his prowess by securing the seventh spot in the NL for runs scored, boasting an impressive on-base percentage of .401.
In order to exceed expectations and secure a second World Series victory, the Nationals will likely rely on Soto to take the lead in that specific category. Their quest for another championship commences on July 23rd, when they face off against the Yankees.
Related Articles
