Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, 5/15/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025

Location: Truist Park in Cumberland, GA

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South

Odds/Point Spread: Washington (+125) Atlanta (-150)

Truist Park is the site where the Atlanta Braves (21-21) will play the Washington Nationals (17-26) on Thursday. The moneyline on this contest has the Nationals at +125 while the Braves are coming in at -150. The over/under is set at 9. The pitchers taking the mound are Trevor Williams and AJ Smith-Shawver.

The Nationals have accounted for 61 two-baggers as a squad and have smacked 42 balls out of the stadium. Washington is slugging .377 and have struck out 341 times, while drawing a walk on 129 occasions. As a squad, the Washington Nationals are putting up 4.1 runs per game, which has them at 18th in the league. They have accumulated 166 runs batted in as well as 338 base knocks on the campaign, and their batting average is .237. They have a total of 176 runs scored while having a team OBP of .306.

Get all of our MLB Betting Picks

They have a K/BB ratio of 2.14 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.46. Nationals pitchers have given up 44 home runs and 234 runs in total (28th in the league). Washington has given up 387 base hits (9.3 per 9 innings) in addition to 226 earned runs. The Nationals have an ERA of 5.42 this season (28th in the league), and the staff has rung up 344 hitters. They have walked 161 opposing players and their FIP sits at 4.31 as a squad so far this season.

The Nationals relievers have accumulated a save rate of 66.7% and have come into the game in 36 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 86 runners this season with 46.5% of them ended up scoring. Nationals bullpen pitchers have entered the game with runners on 48 times as well as having 30 appearances in high leverage situations. The Nationals have dispatched 145 relievers to the mound on the campaign. The relief pitchers have earned 18 holds on the year (25th in the league). They have recorded 12 saves on the year and have blown 6 of 18 save opportunities.

The Washington Nationals have accounted for 1,125 putouts so far this season, in addition to 361 assists and 17 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .989 which puts them in 8th in the majors, and have accumulated 28 double plays. The Nationals have turned 67.6% of balls in play into outs in their 3,375 innings, which ranks them 28th in pro baseball.

Williams (52-59 mark in his career) holds a FIP of 4.31 and he has gone up against 4,174 hitters in the major leagues. He has allowed 1,012 base hits (9.4 hits per 9 innings) and has had 314 free passes. His ERA is 4.37 (470 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.371. Williams has taken the ball for 967 innings and has 794 strikeouts during his pro baseball career.

The Braves hold a team slugging percentage of .382 and they score 3.95 runs per contest (22nd in baseball). They have hit 60 doubles, while taking a walk 140 times and earning 166 runs. Atlanta has 44 home runs for the season and 159 RBIs. They have been called out on strikes on 357 instances (10th in MLB) and have accounted for 341 hits. The Atlanta Braves have an OBP of .312 as well as a team batting average of .240 so far this year.

The Braves have a WHIP of 1.234 and have a FIP of 4.09 as a unit so far this year. They rank 6th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 317. The Atlanta pitching staff have surrendered 164 runs on the year while having an ERA of 3.78 (156 earned runs conceded). Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 8.90 (367 strikeouts vs 141 walks). They have relinquished 49 homers and they relinquish 3.98 runs per 9 innings (9th in MLB).

With 36 save situations, the Braves have recorded 20 holds in addition to 8 blown saves. Atlanta has had relief pitchers enter the game in 16 save opportunities and they have walked away with 8 saves. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 55 times in high leverage situations in addition to 44 occasions with runners on base. Atlanta bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 31.6% out of 57 inherited runners. They are currently ranked 25th in baseball holding a save percentage of 50.0%, and they have dispatched 132 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond over the course of the season.

Out of their 3,345 innings played, the Braves have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 71.7% (8th in the majors). The Atlanta Braves have turned 30 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .989 (5th in professional baseball). The Braves have racked up 373 assists, 16 errors and have amassed 1,115 putouts on the campaign.

Smith-Shawver (3-2 win-loss record in his career) holds a 3.22 ERA while allowing 7.2 hits per 9 innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.07 and he has gone up against 261 hitters during his MLB career. He has allowed 22 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.254 and having a FIP of 3.2. During his MLB career, Smith-Shawver has surrendered 49 base hits while accumulating 58 K's in 61 innings.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Atlanta (-150)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here