Washington has the better record. Washington has the better offense. Washington has the better starting pitcher by far. So the Nationals are an easy choice here at this low lay price.

The Nationals lead the majors in many of the key offensive categories. They are playing well going 6-1 on their current road trip. Nationals starter Max Scherzer is the best right-hander in the National League and is in dominant form with a 2-0 mark and 1.02 ERA with a 24-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his last two starts spanning 17 2/3 innings. Washington is 21-7 in Scherzer's past 28 road starts.

LA is 2-4 in its last six games. The Dodgers have scored two or fewer runs in five of their last six games. They are minus injured Justin Turner.

Dodgers starter Brandon McCarthy has pitched better than expected this season. But he's been nicked up with his latest injury being a finger blister that caused him to be lifted from his last start this past Thursday. McCarthy is two tiers below Scherzer.