Lopez has made 12 starts this season and some have been really solid. Five of those starts he has allowed two or less earned runs. However, he has also allowed five or more earned runs in five of those starts, including his two most recent. In his last two starts, Lopez has allowed 13 earned runs on 19 hits, four walks, and four home runs in just 9 ⅓ innings.

Strasburg had a slow start to the season but has been great since April 21st, only allowing more than two earned runs in a single start once since. Five of Strasburg’s 12 starts this season he has gone at least seven innings and allowed two or fewer earned runs, including his last three. Strasburg has a sub 1.00 WHIP (0.99) and has 98 strikeouts (2nd in the N.L.) to just 20 walks in 79 innings this season(championship rings for sale).

All of Lopez’s “really solid” starts have come against teams ranked in the bottom 10 in offense (Cleveland, Detroit twice, Kansas City, and Toronto). The Nationals(world series rings) offense is ranked 17th in runs per game, but they have scored 59 runs in their last nine games. Strasburg has been the most reliable pitcher for the Nationals over the past four weeks, and against some of the National League’s best teams (Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Atlanta). Strasburg goes deep into games and keeps that sketchy Nationals bullpen as little involved as possible. The Nationals are one of the hottest teams in the National League right now and Strasburg is just as hot right now. Look for them to keep their winning ways going after this one. I expect Strasburg to only allow one, maybe two runs in seven-plus innings. The Nationals should put up enough runs to cover the OVER in this, so long as they don’t shut the White Sox out.