San Diego Padres vs. Washington Nationals Odds For April 26, 2012

The American League has simply turned into a Nerf league with titanic home runs hit nearly every night and teams like the New York Yankees nearly averaging nine runs a game.

Its the opposite in the National League where teams like the Washington Nationals rarely give up a hit. The Nationals have a 1.71 ERA from their starters and just snapped a 26-straight scoreless inning streak last night.

There’s a reason why over 65-percent of bettors are going with the Nationals, according to Covers.

Washington has won six games in a row and go for a sweep of the San Diego Padres Thursday night. Jordan Zimmerman mastered the Padres with four scoreless innings in a 7-2 win Wednesday night.

“It’s been outstanding, manager Davey Johnson told the Associated Press. “Six or seven innings putting up zeroes, low hits, very few mistakes. They’re kind of competing against each other when they go out there – who’s going to throw the better outing? It’s been fun to watch.”

The Nationals have outscored San Diego 16-5 in their last five meetings, all wins, and their starters have a 0.86 ERA.

“You look at a 2.20 ERA (this season) when you are giving up two runs per game over (18) games, you are going to have nice results,” Padres manager Bud Black said.

Washington is hoping Edwin Jackson gets nice results tonight. He gets the ball after an ugly outing against the Houston Astros. Jackson gave up five first-inning runs in a 11-4 rout.

“(Jackson) was throwing all right, but his location was pretty much down the middle,” Johnson told the team’s website. “(After the first inning) he turned it up a notch. He was unhittable the rest of the way.”

Bovada’s MLB Player Props page set an over/under of 5 1/2 strikeouts for Jackson on the night.

San Diego hasn’t had much a problem in the past. Jackson is 0-3 in his career against the Padres with a 5.16 ERA. But they currently have the worst record in the NL at 5-14 and are batting .211 on the year. They’ve scored two runs or less nine times.

“You can’t think the season (is lost) in April,” Black said. “No matter if you’re in first place or last place.”

Orlando Hudson has been the team’s lone bright spot, hitting .310 over his last eight games and his two-run homer broke Washington’s scoreless streak last night. He’s 2 for 2 against Jackson.

Edinson Volquez starts for San Diego, looking for his first win this year. He’s 1-1 with a 9.72 ERA against Washington.

Bovada is favoring the Nationals by 1 1/2 runs witha -110 moneyline.

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