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Bumgarner, Giants try to sweep away Nats Monday
By: Freddy Wander - StatFox
Published: 10/6/2014  at  4:25:00 AM
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WASHINGTON NATIONALS (96-68)

at SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (91-74)

National League Division Series
Game 3 - San Francisco leads series 2-0
First pitch: Monday, 5:05 p.m. ET
Line: San Francisco -135, Washington +125, Total: 6

The Nationals attempt to avoid elimination as they travel to AT&T Park to face the Giants down 2-0 in the Best-of-5 NLDS.

This series has been all about pitching through the first two contests, and Washington has yet to record a win despite solid starts out of both Stephen Strasburg (5 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 K's) and Jordan Zimmerman (8.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6 K's). In Saturday’s record-setting, 18-inning game, the Nats held the lead with two outs in the ninth before closer Drew Storen allowed the game-tying run with one out to go. Part of the problem with their offense has been from the leadoff spot, which is held by OF Denard Span who is hitless in his 11 at-bats in the series. The Giants have countered with some tremendous pitching of their own, allowing just three runs on 15 hits in the 27 innings of the NLDS and they struck out a total of 20 batters in Saturday’s victory. After an impressive performance (7.1 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 8 K's) from starter Tim Hudson, the bullpen was amazing with a mere two hits allowed over 10.2 scoreless frames in the 18-inning thriller. C Buster Posey has had a hit in each of the team’s three postseason games, going 6-for-15 with 2 RBI. Looking to keep Washington’s season alive will be RHP Doug Fister (16-6, 2.41 ERA in regular season) as he goes head-to-head with the victor from the NL Wild Card game; LHP Madison Bumgarner (1-0, 0.00 ERA in playoffs). In road games this season, the Nationals are an excellent 45-36 (.556, 6th in majors) and will be going against a Giants club with an identical 45-36 record (.556, T-10th in MLB) at home. Despite losing its past two games in this matchup, Washington has some hope, as it is 13-8 overall against this club over the past three seasons and has done well (6-4) when on the road. Bettors should take notice that the Nationals are a perfect 8-0 this year after when Fister is starting in a game after not allowing a walk in his previous outing, while San Francisco is 188-128 (.595) after a game with a combined score of three runs or less since 1997. The injury report has OF Nate McLouth (shoulder) out for the rest of the season for Washington, as the Giants are playing without some important pieces like OF Angel Pagan (back) and 2B Marco Scutaro (back), who are done for the year, while OF Michael Morse (oblique) should be back any day.

Doug Fister had a big year with the Nationals as he ranked fifth in the National League in WHIP (1.08) and fourth in ERA (2.41) while striking out a mere 5.4 batters per nine innings. He proved to have some of the best control in the league with a miniscule walk rate (1.3 BB/9) as he allowed his highest home-run rate (0.99 HR/9) since his rookie year. Fister was one of the luckier starters in the league though, with batters hitting a meager .262 BABIP against him while he was able to leave 83.1% of runners on base. Fister gained plenty of postseason experience as a member of the Tigers, going 3-2 with a 2.98 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over eight games (7 starts) while striking out 6.9 batters per nine innings. Fister has faced the Giants three times in his career with a 1-2 record, 2.37 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, and earned a loss in his last meeting with them on Aug. 22 (6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 3 Ks). With three hits in as many at-bats against Fister, including his only career homer and 3 RBI, 2B Joe Panik has seen the ball well out of his hands while OF Hunter Pence, C Buster Posey and SS Brandon Crawford have combined to go a woeful 3-for-17 in the matchup. The Nationals’ bullpen is 26-18 (.591) this season with a tremendous 2.95 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, and are 45-for-62 (73%) in their save chances. Closer Drew Storen (1.12 ERA, 11 saves in regular season) allowed the game-tying run in Saturday’s loss while saving 11-of-14 games in the regular season.

Madison Bumgarner put up another huge performance in 2014 with a career-high strikeout rate (9.1 K/9) and amazing control (1.8 BB/9). The lanky left-hander also posted a career-high 18 victories this season, giving him 13+ wins with 200+ innings in each of the past four years. He was masterful in the Wild Card game to open these playoffs, throwing a four-hit shutout with 10 K's and only one walk. Overall in his eight postseason games (7 starts), Bumgarner is 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA (1.10 WHIP) while striking out 8.5 batters per nine innings. He’s done well against the Nationals too, going 2-3 (2-5 team record) with a 2.60 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, and has allowed four runs in his past three starts (18 IP). SS Ian Desmond (5-for-15, 1 double, 2 RBI) and 2B Danny Espinosa (4-for-13) have hit well off Bumgarner while OF Jayson Werth (2-for-11, 2 K's) and OF Denard Span (1-for-8, 2 K's) have had their issues with San Francisco’s ace. The relievers for the Giants have combined to go 33-14 (.702) with a 2.96 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, and have saved 48-of-66 (73%) games. Closer Santiago Casilla (1.70 ERA, 19 saves in regular season) has already pitched two scoreless innings in this postseason after posting a low strikeout rate (6.9 K/9) with four blown saves in the regular season.

Here are the BetDSI Sportsbook World Series odds:


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