Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 5/21/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals

Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: MASN

Odds/Point Spread: Atlanta (-210) Washington (+172)

Nationals Park is the location where the Washington Nationals (21-27) will attempt to beat the Atlanta Braves (24-23) on Wednesday. The odds on this game have Atlanta at -210 while Washington is coming in at +172. The over/under is 8. The pitchers who are expected to start will be AJ Smith-Shawver and Trevor Williams.

Atlanta is slugging .390 and have been rung up 397 times, while drawing a walk on 161 occasions. They have amassed 187 RBI's and 394 base knocks so far this season, and their average at the plate is sitting at .247. The Braves have compiled 66 two-baggers as a squad and have knocked 50 baseballs out of the park. They have 195 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .319. As a squad, the Atlanta Braves are recording 4.2 runs per game, which has them sitting at 18th in baseball.

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The Braves have a team earned run average of 3.75 this season (13th in the league), and the staff has rung up 400 batters. Braves pitchers have given up 54 long balls and also 184 runs (10th in baseball). They have walked 154 opposing players and their FIP comes in at 4.09 as a unit so far this season. Atlanta has allowed 359 hits (7.8 per 9 innings) as well as 173 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.60 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.24.

The Braves have dispatched 146 relievers to the mound this year. The relievers have inherited 62 runners for the season with 33.9% of those runners earned a run for their team. They have earned 10 saves so far this season and have not converted 10 of 20 save opportunities. The Braves relief pitchers have accumulated a save rate of 50.0% and stepped onto the hill in 46 save situations. The relief pitchers have tallied 26 holds for the year (16th in MLB). Braves relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on 48 times and also have had 59 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Braves have converted 71.4% of balls in play into outs in their 3,741 innings on the field, which has them sitting 9th in the majors. The Athletics have a tally of 1,247 putouts this season, as well as 431 assists and 20 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .988 which is 7th in MLB, and they have turned 35 double plays.

Smith-Shawver has taken the ball for 67 frames and has racked up 64 strikeouts so far in his MLB career. His ERA is 2.94 (22 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.202. He has given up 51 hits (6.8 hits per 9 innings) and has 30 free passes. Smith-Shawver (4-2 win-loss record in his career) sits with a FIP of 2.89 while he has gone up against 284 opposing hitters in the majors.

Washington has knocked in 50 home runs for the year as well as 196 RBIs. They have tallied 73 two-baggers, while taking a walk 142 times and recording 207 runs. The Washington Nationals have accumulated an OBP of .310 in addition to a team batting average of .241 this season. The Nationals hold a team SLG% of .390 and they score 4.31 runs per game (14th in baseball). They have been called out on strikes on 387 occasions (17th in the league) and have 384 hits.

The Washington pitching staff have conceded 256 runs so far this season while holding a team ERA of 5.28 (246 earned runs relinquished). They have given up 48 HR's and they surrender 5.50 runs per 9 innings (26th in MLB). The Nationals have a WHIP of 1.451 and have a FIP of 4.18 as a staff on the campaign. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 8.40 (392 strikeouts against 171 bases on balls). They come in at 28th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 437.

Washington has had relief pitchers enter the contest in 20 save chances and they have earned 14 saves. They rank 7th in the league holding a save rate of 70.0%, and they have dispatched 165 relief pitchers to the mound over the course of the season. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 35 times in high leverage situations and on 55 occasions with base runners. Washington relievers have an inherited score rate of 43.4% of 99 inherited base runners. Sitting with 38 save situations, the Nationals have accrued 18 holds in addition to 6 blown saves.

In 3,771 innings played, the Nationals have accumulated a efficiency on defense of 67.0% (29th in baseball). The Washington Nationals have turned 30 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .986 (12th in the majors). The Nationals have accrued 401 assists, 23 errors and have accounted for 1,257 putouts over the course of the season.

During his pro baseball career, Williams has surrendered 1,017 hits while tallying 798 punch outs in 971 innings pitched. He has allowed a total of 473 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.370 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.3. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.54 and he has faced 4,194 hitters in his MLB career. Williams (52-60 career mark) has a 4.38 ERA and has given up 9.4 hits per 9 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Washington (+172)

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