MLB Baseball Betting - Washington Nationals

Manager: Manny Acta (second season).

2007: 73-89, fourth place, NL East

Training: Space Coast Stadium, Viera, Fla.

Home Park: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C., Cap. 41,000, Grass, Opened March 30, 2008.

World SeriesTitles: (0)

Acquisitions: INF Aaron Boone, RHP Tyler Clippard, C Paul Lo Duca, OF Elijah Dukes, C Johnny Estrada, OF Willie Harris, LHP Ray King, OF Rob Mackowiak, OF Lastings Milledge, UTL Pete Orr, LHP Odalis Perez,

Departures: RHP Jonathan Albaladejo, OF Ryan Church, 1B/OF Robert Fick, RHP Enrique Gonzalez, INF D'Angelo Jimenez, CF Nook Logan, C Brian Schneider, OF Brandon Watson,

Outlook: The Washington Nationals will open play this season in their brand spanking new stadium, aptly named, Nationals Park, and feel much better about the season ahead after making several offseason moves to shore up their roster.

Washington’s outfield will likely be the strength of the team with power-hitter Austin Kearns and athletic players in Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes scheduled to start and Wily Mo Pena seeing time when the situation warrants.

First baseman Nick Johnson is healthy which could put veteran Dmitri Young back on the bench or on another team’s roster at some point.  Catcher Paul Lo Duca and second baseman Ronie Belliard also know how to get the job done and will be pluses for the Nationals this season.

Washington’s most pressing problems once again will lie with its unimpressive pitching staff.

The fact that lefty, Odalis Perez went 8-11 last season for the Kansas City Royals with a 5.57 ERA but is the team’s No. 1 starter says everything you need to know about the state of the Nationals pitching staff.

Matt Chico, (7-9 4.63 ERA), Tim Redding, (3-6, 3.64 ERA), Jason Bergmann, (6-6, 4.45 ERA), and Shawn Hill, (4-5, 3.42 ERA), join Perez in the starting rotation.

The Nationals have an excellent closer in Chad Cordero, (3-3, 37 saves in 46 chances) but will likely have problems bridging leads to et to Cordero with a lead with mediocre relievers, Jon Rauch, Luis Ayala, Saul Rivera, Ray King, Jesus Colome and Joel Hanrahan all being either short on experience or talent – and in the case of a few – both.

The new stadium is a step in the right direction for the Nationals, now all they have to do is go out and get some better players to match their new home.

The Nationals began the season listed at +15000 to win the 2008 World Series in the futures section of the BetUS Sportsbook. Check out all the latest MLB odds in the BetUS Sportsbook.

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Official Website: www.washingtonnationals.com