Washington Nationals Medium Favorite (-3.5 to -7) Betting Trend

The Nationals' catastrophic performance as medium favorites stems from a fundamental mismatch between market perception and organizational reality during their competitive window. Washington's reputation was built on elite starting pitching anchored by Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, creating inflated expectations when they were favored by significant margins. However, their offensive inconsistency and bullpen volatility made them particularly vulnerable in games where they were expected to control. The psychological element cannot be ignored - teams with championship pedigree often face heightened pressure as medium favorites, and the Nationals' Jekyll-and-Hyde nature meant they frequently wilted under these expectations. Their tendency to rely heavily on home runs for offense made them boom-or-bust, particularly problematic when laying significant runs against quality opponents who could neutralize their power. The strategic flaw lies in Washington's construction as a team built for October rather than consistent regular season dominance. Their rotation-heavy investment strategy left gaps elsewhere that became exposed when facing motivated underdogs with nothing to lose. Bettors should be most cautious backing Washington as medium favorites in divisional matchups and against teams fighting for playoff positioning, where motivation disparities are most pronounced.