Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 7/6/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals

Date: Monday, July 6, 2026

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: Nationals.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-144) Washington (+120)

The Houston Astros (44-47) are hitting the road to Nationals Park on Monday where they will go up against the Washington Nationals (46-44). The odds on this game have the Astros at -144 and the Nationals are coming in at +120. The betting total is set at 8. The expected starting pitchers will be Mike Burrows and Miles Mikolas.

The Astros have compiled 142 two-baggers as a unit and have hit 120 balls out of the park. Houston has a slugging percentage of .410 and have struck out 742 times, while taking a walk on 301 occasions. As a squad, the Houston Astros are knocking in 4.5 runs per outing, which has them at 16th in the league. They have 393 runs batted in and 739 hits over the course of the season, while their team batting average comes in at .242. They have racked up 411 runs and have an on-base percentage of .316.

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Their K/BB ratio is 1.99 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.39. Astros pitchers have allowed 124 home runs in addition to 457 runs in total (26th in MLB). Houston has relinquished 726 base knocks (8.1 per 9 innings) and 428 earned runs. The Astros have an earned run average of 4.78 so far this year (26th in baseball), and they have rung up 786 batters. They have walked 395 players from the other team and their FIP is 4.83 as a team on the season.

The Astros relievers have accumulated a save percentage of 83.9% and have stepped onto the mound in 70 save situations. They have accumulated 26 saves this year and have not converted 5 of 31 chances to save the game. The relief pitchers have inherited 127 base runners this year with 27.6% of those players ended up crossing the plate. Astros relief pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 84 times as well as having 84 appearances in high leverage situations. The Astros have dispatched 283 relief pitchers to the hill so far this season. The relief pitchers have racked up 39 holds this season (24th in the league).

The Houston Astros have accounted for 2,419 putouts at this point in the season, as well as 680 assists and 38 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .988 which has them ranked 7th in pro baseball, and have 78 double plays. The Astros have turned 70.8% of baseballs in play into outs in their 7,257 innings, which has them ranked 10th in MLB.

Burrows has taken the hill for 189 frames and has accounted for 171 K's thus far in his career. Burrows (7-12 mark in his career) has earned a FIP of 4.64 and he has faced 814 opposing batters in the major leagues. His ERA is 4.71 (99 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.374. He has allowed 193 hits (9.2 hits per nine innings) and has 67 walks.

The Washington Nationals have tallied a team OBP of .322 in addition to a team batting average of .248 for the year. They have struck out on 751 occasions (13th in MLB) and have earned 766 hits. Washington has hit 123 long balls on the season to go along with 456 RBIs. The Nationals hold a team slugging percentage of .429 and they tally 5.33 runs per outing (2nd in the league). They have tallied 155 doubles, while taking a walk 302 times and notching 480 runs.

The Nationals hold a team WHIP of 1.388 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.69 as a team for the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 7.90 (710 strikeouts against 314 walks). They are sitting at 28th in MLB as a staff in total hits conceded with 806. They have given up 124 long balls and they allow 5.18 runs per 9 innings (27th in the league). The Washington pitching staff have allowed 465 runs this season while holding an ERA of 4.66 (418 earned runs conceded).

They are currently ranked 27th in MLB with a save percentage of 51.0%, and they have sent 286 relievers onto the diamond this season. Their relievers have stepped onto the hill 100 times in high leverage situations and also on 87 occasions with runners on. Sitting with 106 save situations, the Nationals have earned 50 holds and also 25 blown saves. Washington has called on relievers to enter the contest in 51 save chances and they have recorded 26 saves. Washington relief pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 46.2% out of 132 inherited runners.

The Washington Nationals have turned 69 double plays and have a fielding rate of .979 (30th in professional baseball). The Nationals have racked up 817 assists, 71 errors and have accumulated 2,423 putouts for the year. In their 7,269 innings played, the Nationals are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 68.9% (24th in baseball).

Mikolas (74-82 career win-loss mark) is the owner of a 4.32 earned run average and has conceded 9.2 hits per nine innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.58 and he has gone up against 5,575 opposing batters in his pro baseball career. He has allowed 641 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.221 and a FIP of 4.3. During his career, Mikolas has surrendered 1,369 hits while accumulating 942 K's in 1,336 innings pitched.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Houston (-144)

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