National League Championship Series Game 3 Betting Preview: St. Louis Cardinals at Washington Nationals
The National League Championship Series will head to Game 3 on Monday night, and so far, one team has been extremely dominant. The Washington Nationals return home with a 2-0 series lead over the St. Louis Cardinals, and they have a ton of momentum. St. Louis will need to win two of the next three games to extend the series back to St. Louis for Games 6 and 7.
Washington has now won four straight games dating back to its NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Nationals have only scored five total runs in this series, but it has been good enough for two road wins.
St. Louis stunned the Atlanta Braves in Game 5 of the NLDS, but they must have left their offense in Atlanta. The Cardinals now face a daunting task of keeping their season alive in Washington. The Washington Nationals are -127 over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of this series.
Cardinals Need Some Offense
The St. Louis Cardinals have managed just four hits through the first two games of this series, and that will not get the job done. Jose Martinez has two of the four hits as a pinch hitter for the Cardinals, and look for him to possibly be in the lineup for this game. Marcell Ozuna blasted a pair of home runs in the NLDS against the Braves, and the Cardinals are waiting for him to heat up. St. Louis has been able to piece together some offense all season long and will need that again in this game.
St. Louis will have its ace on the mound in this game, and that should give it plenty of confidence. Jack Flaherty was the best pitcher in baseball since the All-Star break and has pitched well so far in these playoffs. Flaherty has given up just four earned runs in 12 innings pitched so far this postseason and should keep the Cardinals in this one. The Cardinals bullpen has pitched well in this series so far, but they’ve yet to pitch with a lead.
Strasburg Toes Mound For Nationals
Stephen Strasburg will take the ball for the Nationals in Game 3, and that is bad news for the St. Louis Cardinals. Strasburg will be making his fourth appearance so far in this postseason and has allowed just four earned runs in 15.0 innings pitched. The Nationals had one of the worst bullpens in baseball during the regular season, but they have been sharp so far against the Cardinals.
The Nationals have not exactly been knocking the cover off of the baseball, but they have been scoring enough runs. Juan Soto is one player that the Nationals must get going in this game, but he has been held in check by the Cardinals up to this point. Washington was one of the best offenses in the National League during the regular season, and they can score runs in a hurry.
Washington Wins Third Straight Game
The Washington Nationals came into this series with plenty of momentum, and they have yet to slow down. The Nationals were able to steal both games in St. Louis, and they will have one of their best pitchers on the mound in this game. St. Louis has not been able to find any offense in this series, and that will likely continue in this game.
The Cardinals will get some more hits, but the Nationals are going to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. Bet the Washington Nationals -127 over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.
