May 10, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) walk to his dugout at the end of the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports
- The Astros and Nationals wrap up a three-game set on Sunday
- Houston is a heavy -200 favorite with Justin Verlander on the mound
- Find the Astros vs Nationals odds, preview, and best bet below
The red-hot Houston Astros will be looking to finish off their weekend on a high note as they conclude a three-game series with the Washington Nationals in DC. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:35pm ET.
Justin Verlander gets the ball on Sunday while the Nats counter with the struggling Patrick Corbin.
Astros vs Nationals Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Astros | -200 | -1.5 (-120) | Ov 8 (-105) |
| Washington Nationals | +175 | +1.5 (+100) | Un 8 (-115) |
Odds as of May 14th at Caesars.
The Astros are a -200 favorite here and currently own the fourth-best World Series odds in the big leagues at +900.
Astros vs Nationals Probable Pitchers
Verlander has returned to his dominant self after barely pitching since 2019 due to injuries. The future Hall of Famer is 4-1 with a terrific 1.55 ERA, striking out 36 hitters in 40.2 innings and allowing only six walks.
In his last start, Verlander took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins before Gio Urshela singled to right field.
Justin Verlander loses the no hitter in the eighth inning. Pain.#LevelUp pic.twitter.com/Ga2g7oqOdr
— Mr Matthew CFB 🇺🇦 (@MrMatthewCFB) May 11, 2022
Although Verlander has been pitching in the big leagues for 17 years now, he’s only faced the Nationals twice. The veteran owns a 2-0 record and 2.57 ERA in those two starts.
Their lineup is hitting just .215 off Verlander as well. The 39-year-old is a frontrunner in Cy Young odds too alongside Kevin Gausman at +650.
Verlander vs Corbin Stats
| 4-1 | Record | 0-5 |
| 1.55 | ERA | 6.06 |
| 0.64 | WHIP | 1.74 |
| .150 | OBA | .292 |
Corbin, on the other hand, has been atrocious for Washington. Their staff as a whole is looking very concerning and he is a big reason for that. The lefty is 0-5 with a 6.05 ERA, surrendering 17 free passes in 32.2 innings.
However, Corbin is coming off the best start of his season, tossing five frames of scoreless baseball against a very good Mets lineup. He only allowed three hits as well.
Last year, Patrick Corbin was throwing 4-seam straight fastballs & missing targets and getting crushed. Now his sinker that leaks over the center has movement and is getting fouled off or pounded into the ground. What a difference — but why did it take so long to adjust to this? pic.twitter.com/AjeNWsKXkr
— Talk Nats ⚾ (@TalkNats) May 10, 2022
Corbin doesn’t have a great track record vs Houston, compiling a 5.21 ERA in three outings. That being said, their current lineup has limited experience against him.
Astros Betting Outlook
Houston were riding an 11-game winning streak before Saturday’s loss, sweeping the Mariners, Tigers, and Twins. While their offense is hitting only .223 as a team, the Astros are scoring a ton of runs via the homer, cranking 43 of them. That’s fourth in the Majors.
After that blast (438 FT) Yordan Alvarez is now tied for first in Homeruns!🤘 pic.twitter.com/SSdxzmuVwo
— Clutch City Entertainment (@ClutchCityENTX) May 13, 2022
Yordan Alvarez has 11 bombs already, going deep three times in his last three games. When it comes to Corbin, no one in the Stros lineup is hitting over .250 off him. Altuve is the most experienced bat versus the southpaw, going 2 for 9 lifetime.
Nationals Betting Outlook
Washington is in the midst of a forgettable season, going 12-23 and sitting at the bottom of the National League East. While they did manage to put some runs up on the board in Saturday’s game, the offense is struggling to produce. DC is batting .252 as a team, but they’re scoring just four runs per contest, which ranks 16th in the MLB.
MAIKEL FRANCO HIT THE BUDS.
Get $4 off beer at tomorrow’s game!@budweiserusa // #BloomDay🌸 pic.twitter.com/qb98Vu0e3j
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 15, 2022
It’s honestly been the pitching that has let them down. Only one starter owns an ERA under four. There’s been minimal consistency on the mound, but hopefully, Corbin can build off a solid last start and keep his team in Sunday’s game.
Astros vs Nationals Prediction
This is a no-brainer. With Verlander on the mound, there isn’t a chance the Nats win here. He’s absolutely dealing in 2022 and it will continue in the series finale. Take Houston to cover the runline.
Pick: Astros -1.5 (-120)
Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT ’17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.