Kenny G said he will probably back Washington once a line pops, expecting them to be decent dogs. His reasoning: MacKenzie Gore owns a tidy 3.52 ERA and just held Minnesota to one run on one hit, while Houston counters with rookie Ryan Gusto and his 5.18 ERA after getting rocked by the A’s. The Astros lineup has gone cold—scoring three runs or fewer in five of their last seven games—so Kenny doubts they punish Gore even with Washington’s league-worst bullpen lurking. He pointed out the Nats have flashed sneaky pop (4-2-7-9 runs before Tuesday’s zero) and thinks a plus-money price would outweigh bullpen risk. He’ll confirm when numbers surface, but his first instinct is Nationals moneyline.

Kenny G said he will lean toward the Nationals once a line is posted, expecting them to open as underdogs. His reasoning centers on a wide starting-pitching gap and the Astros’ slumping bats. MacKenzie Gore owns a 3.52 ERA and is coming off a five-inning, one-hit, one-run outing against Minnesota despite battling wildness (six walks). Gore’s biggest enemy has been a lack of run support – Washington’s bullpen is dead last in MLB, so length from the left-hander is crucial – but Houston’s offense makes that plausible. The Astros have produced more than four runs only once in their last six contests and rank bottom-10 in July OPS. Ryan Gusto counters with a 5.18 ERA and was rocked by Oakland in his previous start; Kenny called the 26-year-old “the definition of inconsistent.” Houston’s pen is strong, yet Kenny doubts they will have a big lead to protect. If the Nats open anywhere near +130 or better, he plans to grab the dog moneyline.

Malcom Bamford said the only bet he wants without seeing Houston’s starter is Washington. He cited the Astros’ mounting injuries, a lack of veteran leadership, and reliance on inexperienced bats. He’s comfortable rolling with Gore after the southpaw’s eight-strikeout gem versus San Diego and thinks the spot favors the underdog Nats until the Astros prove they are healthy again.

Unsure who Houston will start, Lonte Smith is eyeing Washington first five. MacKenzie Gore has held opponents to two runs or fewer in four of five, and Lonte notes you can tell immediately if the lefty has his swing-and-miss stuff—great for live betting. While Gore’s strikeout rate has dipped and the walks (21 in six outings) are up, he has been dominant on the road. With the Astros scuffling and likely running a back-end arm, Lonte likes the Nats early.

The tout took Washington on the money line, noting the Nats have won five of seven overall and four of the last five against Houston while posting 14 wins in their past 17 trips to Minute Maid. Houston enters on a five-game skid, is winless in its last six at home, and is missing lineup catalysts Jeremy Pena and Yordan Alvarez plus a dozen injured pitchers. MacKenzie Gore has allowed four total runs in three of his last four starts, giving the visitors the edge over a reeling Astros squad.

Guy Boston Sports leaned toward the OVER rather than a side in Astros–Nationals. Houston has scored just five runs total in its last five games (1.67 per contest), but he expects eventual regression against Michael Soroka, whose right-on-right splits are far worse (.340 wOBA) than against lefties. Washington counters with Jason Alexander, a depth arm the tout ‘doesn’t love,’ forecasting traffic from Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez and company. While he would still sprinkle Nationals ML because the price is generous and Houston has dropped five straight, his stronger angle is betting the total—anything 8 or lower—on the premise that either Houston finally wakes up or Alexander implodes, with Soroka unlikely to fully silence a right-heavy Astros lineup. He projects something like 5-4 either way.

Malcolm Bamford said the plus-120 moneyline on Washington is too tempting with Houston stuck in an ugly funk. The Astros have surrendered the first run in 18 straight games and have not shown the veteran leadership to claw back once they fall behind. Lance McCullers owns an 11.86 home ERA and a 7.71 mark for July, winning just one of his last five outings. By contrast, Mike Soroka has kept Washington in games—two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five road starts—even if the club has failed to cash those efforts. Bamford thinks the combination of Soroka’s competence and Houston’s early-game malaise makes the Nats the clear value side and is willing to shop for an even bigger price before first pitch.

Kenny G grabbed Washington at +125 and vowed not to back Houston until the champs stop free-falling. The Astros have dropped five straight behind a punch-less lineup that has scored 1-1-1-3 runs during the skid and now sits just 17th in MLB scoring. They turn to converted reliever Jason Alexander, whose last start was a disaster (11 hits, 5 ER in six innings vs Oakland). Houston’s elite bullpen (3.42 ERA) cannot overcome an offense missing Jeremy Pena and producing a bottom-half slugging rate. Michael Soroka – despite a 3-8 record and 4.85 ERA – has been “lights out” in four of his last five turns, giving up two earned or fewer each time. Kenny admitted Washington’s pen is the league’s worst, but the plus price offsets that flaw. He sees value because the Nats’ middling offense (17th runs) can scratch a few across while Alexander likely falters. Side note: an under 8.5 lean exists given two ice-cold bats, yet the Nationals moneyline is the official play.

Scott Reichel is grabbing Washington around +200 despite Framber Valdez taking the mound for Houston. He argued the –240 tag cannot be justified after the Astros were swept at home by Oakland and scored only five total runs in the series. Houston’s lineup also lost slugger Isaac Paredes to injury, thinning an already inconsistent offense. Reichel admitted Brad Lord is unproven but noted the Nationals have plated 7-plus runs in consecutive games, and Houston’s recent form makes laying more than two-to-one ‘insane.’ He is happy to ride the live dog while the market continues to price Houston like an elite club.

Calling it his "lock of the day," Kenny G laid the hefty –235 with Houston. Framber Valdez is 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA and the Astros have won his last five outings, most recently 7 IP, 1 ER in a 3-1 victory over Arizona. Washington counters with 25-year-old Brad Lord, stretched out only four innings in his first start and backed by MLB’s worst bullpen (north of a 5.50 collective ERA). Houston’s relief corps sits at 3.42, and despite scoring just seven total runs in a four-game sweep by Oakland, the lineup still ranks second in batting average and ninth in OBP—numbers Kenny expects to surface against Lord and that pen. With Houston 33-23 at home and the Nats 22-31 on the road, he sees little path to an upset and ignored the 7.5 total.

Eric Lindquist advised betting Framber Valdez ‘to record a win’ rather than laying full Houston juice. The lefty has gone at least six innings in nine of his last ten starts and the Astros’ bullpen owns the best ERA in baseball, giving him multiple paths to the W once he hands the ball off. Washington’s lineup looks even softer with Amed Rosario moving on, and Houston has rattled off a long string of victories in Valdez appearances, something Lindquist framed as talent-driven, not a fluky trend.

Cash Out Sports Picks said Houston is a strong favorite because Framber Valdez has been "steady as they come" while Brad Lord is being rushed back from the injured list and the Nationals staff sits bottom-five in ERA and WHIP. Opponents are batting .264 (3rd-worst mark in MLB) off Washington pitching, making it likely the Astros jump ahead early and never look back. The tout framed the series opener as a chance for a slumping Houston club to 'get right' at home and advised taking the Astros to win and cover the run line.