Cincinnati Reds vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 8/7/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Cincinnati Reds vs Washington Nationals

Date: Friday, August 7, 2026

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: Nationals.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Cincinnati (-160) Washington (+132)

The Washington Nationals (56-60) will try to beat the Cincinnati Reds (55-58) at Nationals Park on Friday. The line on this matchup has Cincinnati at -160 while Washington is opening at +132. The over/under is 8. The pitchers taking the mound will be Chase Burns and Cade Cavalli.

Cincinnati has a slugging percentage of .396 and have been called out on strikes 1,075 times, while being walked on 413 occasions. They have amassed 447 runs batted in in addition to 866 hits on the year, while their batting average is sitting at .230. The Reds have accounted for 168 two-baggers as a squad and have knocked 146 baseballs out of the park. They have accounted for 470 runs scored and hold an OBP of .310. As a team, the Cincinnati Reds are scoring 4.2 runs per game, which ranks them 23rd in the league.

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The Reds have a team ERA of 4.41 over the course of the season (23rd in MLB), and their staff has struck out 906 hitters. Reds pitchers have relinquished 142 home runs in addition to 531 runs in total (20th in baseball). Their pitching staff has walked 480 batters and their FIP is 4.72 as a unit on the year. Cincinnati has surrendered 932 base knocks (8.3 per 9 innings) in addition to 493 earned runs. Their K/BB ratio is 1.89 and the pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.40.

Reds relief pitchers have gone to the mound with opponents on base 123 times and also have had 142 appearances in high leverage situations. The relievers have a total of 64 holds so far this season (12th in baseball). The Reds relievers have recorded a save percentage of 60.9% and have stepped onto the mound in 113 save situations. They have compiled 28 saves this season and have missed out on 18 out of their 46 save opportunities. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 175 base runners over the course of the season and 27.4% of those players ended up crossing the plate. The Reds have sent 402 relievers to the mound for the season.

The Cincinnati Reds are sitting with 3,018 putouts for the season, in addition to 918 assists and 60 errors. Their fielding rate is holding at .985 which is 18th in baseball, and have earned 79 double plays. The Reds have transformed 70.7% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 9,054 innings on the diamond, which has them ranked 11th in pro baseball.

Burns has taken the ball for 161 innings and has racked up 204 punch outs so far in his MLB career. Burns (13-4 career mark) sits with a FIP of 2.91 while he has gone up against 665 batters during his time in the majors. His earned run average is 2.96 (53 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.159. He has given up 128 base knocks (7.1 hits per 9 innings) and has 59 free passes.

The Washington Nationals have a team on-base percentage of .327 and a batting average of .250 this season. They have struck out on 960 occasions (15th in baseball) and have earned a total of 996 base hits. Washington is sitting with 167 home runs so far this season as well as 591 runs batted in. The Nationals hold a slugging % of .439 and they have an average of 5.34 runs per contest (1st in baseball). They have recorded 202 two-baggers, while walking 413 times as well as putting up 620 runs.

The Nationals have a WHIP of 1.396 and have a FIP of 4.79 as a pitching staff for the season. They are currently ranked 28th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 1,036. The Washington pitching staff have surrendered 606 runs this year while having a team ERA of 4.76 (547 earned runs conceded). Their K/BB ratio is 7.60 (876 strikeouts vs 409 bases on balls). They have conceded 161 long balls and they relinquish 5.27 runs per 9 innings (28th in baseball).

They are currently ranked 28th in MLB holding a save rate of 51.6%, and they have dispatched 368 relief pitchers to the mound for the year. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 126 times in high leverage situations and on 118 occasions with runners on base. With 125 save situations, the Nationals have earned 58 holds and 30 blown saves. Washington has had bullpen pitchers take the mound in 62 save chances and they have come away with 32 saves. Washington relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 42.9% out of their 182 inherited base runners.

In 9,321 innings on the field, the Nationals hold a efficiency on defense of 69.2% (24th in baseball). The Washington Nationals have turned 98 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .979 (30th in baseball). The Nationals have racked up 1,080 assists, 88 errors and are sitting with 3,107 putouts so far this season.

So far in his career, Cavalli has given up 184 base knocks while he has earned 179 punch outs in 175 innings. Cavalli (11-7 mark in his career) has earned a 4.01 earned run average while conceding 9.5 hits per nine innings. He has allowed a total of 78 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.358 and a FIP of 3.9. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.31 and he has faced 768 batters during his MLB career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Cincinnati (-160)

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