MLB weekend best bets: Marlins to extend Nationals' losing streak

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Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / Getty

We're heading toward a jam-packed weekend of baseball, with 32 games scheduled over the next couple of days.

Let's dive into a couple that stand out.

Marlins (-125) @ Nationals (+105)
Sep. 16, 7:05 p.m. EST

The Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals are two very bad teams in poor form. The Marlins have won just two of their last seven games and continue to sputter offensively.

Meanwhile, the Nationals have dropped five in a row and are just three games clear of the Oakland Athletics for dead last in MLB.

This is hardly a can't-miss game that people will line up to watch, but value is value and I see it on the Marlins.

For one, they have the much better starting pitcher. Jesus Luzardo has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last eight games, including against potent offenses like the Los Angeles Dodgers' and Philadelphia Phillies'.

He has a respectable 3.91 ERA over the past month, which actually undersells how well he has pitched. Luzardo has sported a 3.48 FIP and limited hard contact during this stretch.

The Nationals sit 19th in wOBA, 21st in hard-hit rate, and have posted the 10th-highest ground-ball rate against lefties since the beginning of August. Luzardo should be able to put together a quality start.

Although the Marlins haven't been able to hit a beach ball for much of the season - at either side of the plate - there's reason to believe Friday could be an exception.

Josiah Gray enters play with a putrid 7.43 ERA and 9.49 FIP over the last month. He has struggled all year against any and all competition; even the Marlins have scored at least three runs on him in three of their four matchups.

If they can do that again Friday, they'll be well on their way to a victory.

Bet: Marlins (-125)

Padres (TBD) @ Diamondbacks (TBD)
Sep. 17, 8:10 p.m. EST

Regardless of what happens between the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks, I expect the latter to take care of business Saturday night.

D-Backs ace Zac Gallen will take the bump and has been nothing short of spectacular this season. He owns a 12-2 record - and 2.50 ERA - despite pitching for a team well under .500.

He enters this game pitching at the peak of his powers. Gallen has posted mind-numbingly good numbers over the last month, owning a 0.81 ERA and 0.98 FIP.

Gallen has conceded runs in only one of his last seven starts despite pitching at least six innings in all of them. Remarkable.

The Padres don't appear ready to snap Gallen out of his hot streak. They have hit very poorly the past few weeks, slotting 26th in wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

On the flip side, the Diamondbacks are positioned well for a good night at the dish. Padres starter Joe Musgrove has pitched quite poorly of late, struggling toward a 5.61 FIP the past month.

The Diamondbacks quietly sit third in wOBA and ISO against righties the past three weeks. They're hitting the cover off the ball right now and are plenty capable of capitalizing on Musgrove's struggles.

Look for the D-Backs to pick up a tidy win at home and push Gallen's record to 13-2.

Bet: Diamondbacks (projected line: -130)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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