The Washington Nationals (14-6) and Los Angeles Dodgers (14-6) continue a three-game National League series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 9:10 p.m. ET.
Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Nationals as -125 road favorites due to ace Stephen Strasburg making his fifth start of the year, but the betting odds may be further inflated due to rookie outfielder Bryce Harper making his major league debut.
Harper is getting thrown into the fire due to the lack of offensive production the Nationals have received from a group of left fielders this season, as Michael Morse has sat out the opening month with a shoulder injury.
Fans should have realistic expectations with the call-up, especially considering that the 19-year-old out of Las Vegas was hitting just .250 with a single home run and three RBIs in 20 games at Triple-A Syracuse.
Strasburg (2-0, 1.08 ERA) has led the club to victory in his first four starts, including a 3-2 home win over the Miami Marlins last time out in a no-decision effort, tossing six shutout frames and allowing four hits.
The hard-throwing right-hander is 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two road starts, surrendering just one run and seven hits over 13 combined innings. He has registered a 5-1 mark and 1.74 ERA in eight career starts away from the nation’s capital.
Washington dropped a 7-3 home decision in Strasburg’s lone career start versus the Dodgers, as he tallied five shutout innings and allowed just two hits. The 23-year-old managed to retire Los Angeles outfielder Matt Kemp in both of his at-bats.
The Nationals are 7-0 in his last seven starts as a road favorite, while the “under” is 27-10 in their last 37 games overall.
Los Angeles will counter with Chad Billingsley (2-1, 3.04 ERA), who will look to bounce back from his first rough outing of the year, allowing nine runs (five earned) and four hits over 3.1 innings in a 12-0 road loss to the Houston Astros.
The right-hander is 4-1 with a 3.21 ERA in seven lifetime outings versus the Nationals, including a 1-0 mark and 4.82 ERA in two starts last year.
Weather forecasts suggest clear skies and game-time temperatures in the mid-60s, with a slight breeze out of the southwest.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com