Baltimore Orioles vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 5/16/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Baltimore Orioles vs Washington Nationals

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: Nationals.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Baltimore (-152) Washington (+126)

Nationals Park is the location where the Washington Nationals (21-23) will compete against the Baltimore Orioles (20-24) on Saturday. The odds on this game have the Orioles at -152 and the Nationals are at +126. The over/under comes in at 9. The starting pitchers will be Chris Bassitt and Cade Cavalli.

The Orioles have hit 74 doubles as a team and have smacked 44 baseballs out of the park. Baltimore owns a slugging percentage of .378 and have struck out 404 times, while being walked on 174 occasions. As a team, the Baltimore Orioles are recording 4.4 runs per game, which has them at 14th in baseball. They have accrued 190 RBI's in addition to 334 hits for the year, and their batting average is at .231. They have 193 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .315.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.20 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.43. Orioles pitchers have relinquished 52 home runs and 230 total runs (28th in MLB). Baltimore has given up 391 base knocks (9.0 per 9 innings) and also 199 earned runs. The Orioles have an earned run average of 4.60 for the year (26th in MLB), and they have rung up 365 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 166 opposing batters and their FIP is 4.37 as a unit on the season.

The Orioles relievers have a save percentage of 76.5% and stepped onto the hill in 44 save situations. They have accumulated 13 saves for the season and have not converted 4 of 17 save opportunities. The relief pitchers have inherited 53 base runners on the campaign with 15.1% of those players crossing the plate. Orioles pitchers have come into the game with runners on base 38 times as well as having 44 appearances in high leverage situations. The Orioles have sent 152 relief pitchers to the mound this year. The bullpen have tallied 26 holds for the season (10th in baseball).

The Baltimore Orioles are sitting with 1,168 putouts so far this season, in addition to 372 assists and 28 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .982 which ranks 27th in MLB, and they have turned 37 double plays. The Orioles have turned 67.8% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 3,504 innings on the diamond, ranking them 28th in the majors.

Bassitt (86-67 record in his career) has a FIP of 3.63 while going up against 5,589 opposing batters in the major leagues. He has conceded 1,232 hits (8.4 hits per nine innings) with 427 free passes. His ERA is 3.69 (539 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.260. Bassitt has taken the mound for 1,316 innings and has racked up 1,217 punch outs in his pro baseball career.

The Washington Nationals have an on-base percentage of .323 in addition to a batting average of .242 so far this season. They have been rung up on 378 instances (10th in MLB) and have totaled 365 base hits. Washington has compiled 52 HRs this season as well as 221 RBIs. The Nationals have a SLG% of .408 and they have an average of 5.36 runs per contest (2nd in MLB). They have put up 83 two-baggers, while taking a walk 162 times as well as putting up 236 runs.

The Nationals have a WHIP of 1.438 in addition to having a FIP of 5.04 as a squad so far this season. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 7.60 (335 strikeouts vs 172 bases on balls). They are sitting at 27th in baseball as a staff in total hits conceded with 396. They have conceded 64 homers and they relinquish 5.83 runs per 9 innings (30th in baseball). The Washington pitching staff have allowed 256 runs for the year while having an ERA of 5.01 (220 earned runs yielded).

They sit at 27th in baseball holding a save percentage of 47.8%, and they have sent 146 relievers onto the field over the course of the season. Their relievers have come in 49 times in high leverage situations and also on 42 occasions with runners on base. With 49 save situations, the Nationals have amassed 22 holds in addition to 12 blown saves. Washington has called on relievers to enter the contest in 23 save opportunities and they have tallied 11 saves. Washington bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 44.3% of 61 inherited base runners.

Out of their 3,555 innings on the diamond, the Nationals hold a efficiency on defense of 69.1% (23rd in the majors). The Washington Nationals have turned 31 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .974 (30th in MLB). The Nationals have accrued 407 assists, 42 errors and have accounted for 1,185 putouts so far this year.

Thus far in his career, Cavalli has allowed 109 base hits while he has tallied 90 punch outs in 93 innings pitched. He has allowed 48 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.547 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.6. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.57 and he has gone up against 432 batters so far in his career. Cavalli (4-4 career mark) is the owner of a 4.64 ERA and has conceded 10.5 hits per 9 innings.

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

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Washington (+126) and under 9 runs

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