Much better team and a superior pitcher going puts me on the Nationals at this low lay price.

Washington is 21 games above .500 - and that's with the worst bullpen in the majors. The Nationals have Gio Gonzalez going and a fortified bullpen with the additions of Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle. The Nationals have won six in a row.

The Angels are four games below .500, have lost seven of their past 10 and pitching minor leaguer Alex Meyer. The Nationals are the second-best hitting team in baseball. Meyer has control problems. That's not a good combination.

Gonzalez is having his best season since 2012 when he went 21-8 with a 2.89 ERA. He's 8-4 this season with a 2.66 ERA and ranks 17th in strikeouts. Mike Trout only is 1-for-11 lifetime against Gonzalez with six strikeouts.

Bryce Harper is supposed to get a day off, but the Angels will be without their leadoff hitter, Cameron Maybin, who suffered a sprained knee last night and will be out at least a couple of weeks.