MLB Handicapping: Nationals vs Indians

Courtesy of OddsShark.com: A winning streak will be on the line for the Cleveland Indians on Friday when they battle the Washington Nationals at Progressive Field. The Nationals will give the ball to starter Luis Atilano in this one. Righthander Atilano is 5-2 this season with a 4.24 ERA. Meanwhile, it'll be Jake Westbrook who starts for the Indians. Righthander Westbrook is 3-3 with a 4.84 ERA so far this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Indians listed as 125-moneyline favorites versus the Nationals, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Adam Dunn and Michael Morse hit solo home runs and the Nationals completed a three-game sweep of the Pirates with a 4-2 victory in the finale last time out. The Nationals won that game as -155 favorites, while the six runs went UNDER the posted over/under (8.5) set by sportsbooks. Livan Hernandez went six innings for the win, allowing two earned runs off five hits. Shin Soo-Choo went 2-for-4 with one RBI as the Indians scored twice in the ninth to rally for an 8-7 win over the Red Sox and a split of the four-game set on Thursday. The Indians won that game as +185 underdogs, while the 15 runs sailed OVER the posted over/under (8.5) set by sportsbooks. Russell Branyan drove in a pair of runs for the Indians, and Kerry Wood closed out the ninth to earn the victory in relief. Current streak: Washington has won 3 straight games. Cleveland has won 2 straight games. Team records: Washington: 30-31 SU Cleveland: 23-36 SU Washington most recently: When playing on Friday are 5-5 Before playing Cleveland are 3-3 After playing Pittsburgh are 6-4 After a win are 3-7 Cleveland most recently: When playing on Friday are 6-4 Before playing Washington are 3-3 After playing Boston are 3-7 After a win are 3-7 A few trends to consider: Washington is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 9 games on the road Washington is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games when playing Cleveland The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing Washington Cleveland is 8-16 SU in its last 24 games Cleveland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Washington Cleveland is 5-13 SU in its last 18 games at home Next up: Cleveland home to Washington, Saturday, June 12 Stevie Vincent is the former Executive Editor of the scorephone Tailgate Parties, which were the reports every gambler flocked to in the pre-Internet days. A pro gambler since 1993, his picks went public in 2007. He is the founder of groundbreaking forensic sports handicapping.