Guy Boston Sports recommended betting the first-three-innings under 2.5 (−125 Caesars) and first-five under 4.5 in Friday’s Nationals-Phillies matchup featuring MacKenzie Gore and Zack Wheeler. Gore is coming off a 10-strikeout, six-shutout-inning gem against San Francisco, while Wheeler owns a 1.7 ERA across his last three starts versus Washington despite a modest 3.20 mark over his past five overall. The tout highlighted Philadelphia’s season-long struggles against left-handed pitching and Washington’s generally light lineup, concluding that the scoring drought should hold at least through the first half of the game. Because both bullpens have shaky middle relief, he prefers these early markets to the full-game total of 8, though he would still lean under there as well.

Eric Pathi said bettors should hammer the Washington Nationals with MacKenzie Gore at the overnight price because they are once again home underdogs––a situation he calls "the best spot in all of baseball." Pathi pointed to his dog-only approach that is 7-4 this week and returning 55 % on risk (up 5.5 units on 11 K staked) as proof the market still undervalues plus-money home dogs. The Nats already cashed earlier at +0.65 and, in Pathi’s view, nothing has changed except that books are giving bettors another swing at the same profitable angle. He labeled the pick a pure syndicate play, urging listeners to lock it in before the overnight number shortens.

Kenny G said he is willing to lay the juice with Philadelphia at –175 because the starting-pitching and bullpen gap is that wide. Wheeler just dealt 6 scoreless innings with 10 Ks against San Francisco and owns a clear edge over MacKenzie Gore, who will be backed by the league’s worst bullpen (6.00+ ERA). Washington’s offense is merely 19th in runs and 18th in batting average, while Philadelphia’s bats, although ice-cold and 39-21-3 to the under on the road, are ‘due’ and could break out here. With the Phillies 32-31 away versus Washington’s 23-36 home mark, Kenny considers –175 still playable because, as he put it, “you’re basically getting Wheeler vs the worst pen in baseball.”

Chris Ruffolo took the Phillies team total over, expecting them to score off starter Brad Lord and really "run it up" once Washington’s bullpen—which he views as a major weakness—enters the game. He anticipates early damage plus a late flood of runs when the relievers take over.

Eric Lindquist said Bryce Harper was the one Philadelphia left-handed bat worth paying for against Washington starter Brad Lord. Lindquist pointed to Lord’s 0.280 expected batting average allowed, soft 20.1 % strike-out rate, and a profile that ‘has no real swing-and-miss,’ traits that have produced consistent trouble with left-handed hitters. He compared Harper to Kyle Schwarber, noting Schwarber’s home-run odds have been bet down while Harper is still available at a better price, giving Harper the higher expected value. With Harper returning to Nationals Park and Lord lacking put-away stuff, Lindquist expects hard contact and advised taking Harper’s home-run prop or building Same Game Parlays around him.