Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 5/22/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals

Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: MASN

Odds/Point Spread: Atlanta (-275) Washington (+220)

The Atlanta Braves (24-24) are en route to Nationals Park on Thursday where they will take on the Washington Nationals (22-27). The moneyline on this game has the Braves at -275 and the Nationals are at +220. The over/under is set at 8. The pitchers who are expected to start are Chris Sale and MacKenzie Gore.

The Braves have recorded 69 doubles as a unit and have smacked 51 baseballs out of the park. Atlanta has a slugging % of .390 and have struck out 401 times, while taking a walk on 162 occasions. As a unit, the Atlanta Braves are earning 4.1 runs per outing, which puts them at 19th in baseball. They have recorded 190 runs batted in and 401 base knocks for the year, and their average at the plate is .246. They have 198 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .318.

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The Braves hold a team earned run average of 3.78 so far this year (14th in the league), and the staff has rung up 404 hitters. Braves pitchers have relinquished 55 home runs and 189 total runs (10th in baseball). Their pitching staff has walked 158 opposing batters and their FIP is 4.11 as a team this year. Atlanta has conceded 367 hits (7.8 per 9 innings) as well as 178 earned runs. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.56 and the pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.24.

The Braves bullpen have earned a save rate of 50.0% and have entered the game in 46 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 63 base runners over the course of the season and 33.3% of those runners crossed home plate. Braves relief pitchers have entered the contest with opponents on base 49 times in addition to having 59 appearances in high leverage situations. The Braves have dispatched 149 relievers to the hill for the season. The relievers have a total of 26 holds for the year (18th in the league). They have accumulated 10 saves for the season and have blown 10 out of their 20 save opportunities.

The Braves have turned 71.3% of balls in play into outs out of their 3,813 innings on the field, ranking them 9th in pro baseball. The Athletics have earned 1,271 putouts thus far, in addition to 441 assists and 21 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .988 which is 10th in pro baseball, and they have turned 36 double plays.

Sale has taken the ball for 2,012 innings and is sitting with 2,486 strikeouts so far in his career. Sale (140-86 career win-loss record) has a FIP of 3.01 and he has faced 8,116 hitters in the major leagues. His earned run average is 3.05 (683 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.053. He has surrendered 1,649 base knocks (7.4 hits per 9 innings) with 470 walks.

The Washington Nationals have tallied an OBP of .312 and a batting average of .242 so far this season. They have struck out on 391 occasions (17th in the league) and have earned a total of 392 base hits. Washington has hit 51 home runs so far this season to go along with 200 runs batted in. The Nationals hold a slugging % of .390 and they are scoring 4.33 runs per game (14th in MLB). They have hit 74 doubles, while taking a walk 146 times and scoring 212 runs.

The Washington pitching staff have given up 259 runs for the season while having a team ERA of 5.24 (249 earned runs surrendered). They have conceded 49 dingers and they relinquish 5.45 runs per 9 innings (26th in the league). The Nationals have a team WHIP of 1.439 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.16 as a pitching staff so far this year. Their K/BB ratio sits at 8.30 (396 strikeouts against 172 free passes). They have a ranking of 28th in the league as a staff in total hits surrendered with 444.

Sitting with 42 save situations, the Nationals have compiled 21 holds and 6 blown saves. Washington has called on relievers to enter the game in 21 save chances and they have come away with 15 saves. Their relievers have stepped onto the hill 36 times in high leverage situations and also on 56 occasions with runners on base. Washington relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 43.0% out of their 100 inherited base runners. They rank 5th in baseball with a save rate of 71.4%, and they have sent 169 relief pitchers to the hill on the campaign.

The Washington Nationals have gotten 32 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .987 (12th in the majors). The Nationals have accrued 414 assists, 23 errors and have a total of 1,284 putouts this season. In 3,852 innings on the diamond, the Nationals have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 67.2% (28th in baseball).

In his career, Gore has surrendered 426 hits while tallying 488 strikeouts in 428 frames. He has allowed a total of 197 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.408 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.1. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.76 and he has gone up against 1,858 opposing batters during his MLB career. Gore (23-30 career win-loss mark) is the owner of a 4.14 ERA while conceding 9.0 hits per 9 innings.

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

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Washington (+220) and under 8 runs

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