Bettor Mark guaranteed the Dodgers’ team total would sail over versus the Nationals, even with Shohei Ohtani making only his second mound appearance. He expects Dave Roberts to cap Ohtani at 1–2 innings after a full workload as DH all series, forcing Los Angeles to lean on a bullpen that has already logged 11 innings this weekend. Washington counters with right-hander Jackson Rutledge’s 5.66 xERA, and Mark pointed out the Dodgers have topped their team total in seven of their last eight games following a loss. With a minus-300 money-line price offering no value, he views the TT over as the cleanest way to exploit the matchup and the Nats’ 5.05 bullpen ERA.

Cash Out Sports Picks laid the chalk with L.A. on the run line. The Dodgers have won six of seven at home and face Michael Soroka, who has surrendered 11 runs in his last three road starts. Washington’s bullpen owns a bottom-three ERA, making it unlikely to survive against an offense that tops MLB in average, runs, and slugging. Shohei Ohtani is slated for only a couple innings, but the Dodgers’ rested bullpen ranks seventh in ERA and should protect a big lead.

Romanelli advised taking the Nationals at +1.5—and even sprinkling +2.5—because he cannot trust Shohei Ohtani on the mound yet. Ohtani’s lone pitching appearance this season lasted just one inning, yielding a run and three hard-hit balls, and he has logged zero rehab outings since. Ron worries about pitch count and command after only simulated work. While Mike Soroka’s surface ERA hovers above 5.00, his xERA and FIP are almost a full run lower, and he delivered a quality start two turns back before being nicked by a couple of mistake pitches in Colorado. If Soroka keeps the ball in the yard, Romanelli expects Washington’s lineup—top-10 in OBP against righties—to pressure a Dodgers bullpen that has carried a 4.50 ERA in June. All that made the Nationals runline his preferred play despite the star power on the other side.

Kenny G recommended grabbing Washington at +240, calling it a sneaky spot to fade the Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani is expected to throw only 1–2 innings in what amounts to a glorified opener—his first start lasted a single frame and looked rusty. That puts six-plus innings on a Los Angeles bullpen that owns a 4.46 ERA and has blown 10 leads this season. Washington’s own pen is ugly, but Kenny trusts it more in a workload split game, and he noted the Nationals have already tagged LA for seven runs in the series opener. Offensively the Nats are mediocre (20th in runs, 20th in SLG) yet still healthier than a Dodgers lineup that, while first in runs season-long, has cooled over the last week. He cautioned bettors not to chase Ohtani strikeout props given the short leash, preferring the Nationals moneyline and a small sprinkle on the +1.5 run line.

Drew Martin plans to take the under on Shohei Ohtani’s strikeout prop against Washington. He reminded listeners that Ohtani is still building back from injury and did not get any minor-league rehab starts because the Dodgers want his bat in the lineup. In his first start back he threw just one inning with zero strikeouts, so Martin doubts he will be allowed to work deep enough Sunday to clear the inevitable lofty K number sportsbooks hang for a headline name. He recommends waiting until books post the prop closer to first pitch, then punching the under before it ticks down.

Lindquist likes Washington +1.5 runs behind MacKenzie Gore. He highlighted Clayton Kershaw’s age-related decline: 50 % hard-hit rate, 16-degree average launch angle, and a career-low 17.4 % K-rate. Kershaw is still painting corners, but the contact profile is ugly, and the Dodgers’ offense has been merely average versus lefties (103 wRC+ in June). Gore, meanwhile, is attacking hitters with a 28 % K-rate and leaning on a curveball that neutralizes L.A.’s left-hand heavy core. Lindquist says if this were any club other than the Dodgers it would be an auto-bet moneyline, so he settles for the safer +1.5 at plus money, expecting a one-run game or an outright Nats upset.

Razzle sees vintage flashes from Clayton Kershaw after two strong outings post-IL. Washington ranks 27th in ISO and has just a 6.5% walk rate against lefties, ideal for Kershaw’s command-first profile. His slider regained a 35% CSW last start, and the spacious Nationals Park suppresses homers. Razzle expects a 6-7 inning gem with strikeout upside, locking him in as a top-end pivot off Wheeler/Brown.

Malcolm Bamford is laying the –1.5 with Los Angeles, calling the matchup ‘like finding money in the street.’ Washington limps into Chavez Ravine on an 11-game losing streak that includes series defeats to the Marlins, Pirates and Rockies. Manager David Martinez publicly blasted his roster mid-week, a sign Bamford interprets as clubhouse turmoil. On the mound, Clayton Kershaw carries a pristine 2.16 ERA for June, while counterpart MacKenzie Gore draws a powerhouse Dodger lineup that historically mashes left-handers. Bamford projected a 7-1 final and noted the run line is still plus-money (+105), making it his preferred way to attack a game where the money-line sits near –200.

Martin grabbed Washington first five innings at +135, riding MacKenzie Gore’s blazing stretch (sub-2.00 ERA and 44-7 K/BB since mid-May). Gore already blanked LA for six innings earlier this season (7-to-1 K/BB) and continues to miss bats with his explosive left arm. Clayton Kershaw’s 88-mph fastball and 5.00 Sierra hint at incoming regression: only 20 strikeouts and 10 walks through 27 innings. Because LA’s superior bullpen could erase any early Nationals lead, Martin isolates the wager to the opening five frames, trusting Gore to outduel Kershaw before relief corps enter.

Kenny G expects Los Angeles to win comfortably and would rather play the –1.5 run line than swallow a –200 moneyline. Clayton Kershaw owns a 3.25 ERA, has allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his last five outings, and blanked the Giants over seven frames his last time out. The Dodgers are 4-1 in those starts and still lead MLB in runs scored. MacKenzie Gore continues to pitch well (2.89 ERA, no start over two earned runs in his last five) but gets zero help from a Nationals offense ranked 22nd in AVG/OBP and a bullpen that is second worst in ERA. Meanwhile, L.A. is 28-12 at Chavez Ravine and routinely punishes inferior pens late. With Kershaw in form, the league’s No. 1 offense, and Washington’s relief woes, Kenny prefers the safer run-line angle while noting over 8.5 is only a lukewarm lean given both starters’ quality.

Bill Harrelson advised betting MacKenzie Gore over 5.5 strikeouts. Gore has topped this line in 9 of his last 10 appearances and 16 of his last 20 overall. In 13 of 15 starts this season he has recorded at least six punch-outs; the two misses landed on exactly five. Earlier this year he rang up seven Ks against these same Dodgers. Harrelson highlighted Gore’s 99th-percentile strike-percentage and expects a bounce-back after a relatively modest five-K outing versus Miami. Sportsbooks agree: FanDuel, Novig, and Caesars are all pricing the over as the favorite. Given Gore’s elite swing-and-miss metrics, consistent workload, and supportive market signals, Harrelson sees 6-plus strikeouts as the most likely outcome.