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

Game: Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals

Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: Nationals.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-182) Washington (+150)

The Houston Astros (45-47) are traveling to Nationals Park on Tuesday where they will take on the Washington Nationals (46-45). The line on this contest has Houston at -182 and Washington is at +150. The betting total comes in at 8. The expected starting pitchers will be Tatsuya Imai and Andrew Alvarez.

As a squad, the Houston Astros are putting up 4.5 runs/g, which ranks them 16th in MLB. They have accumulated 413 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .315. The Astros have hit 142 two-baggers as a squad and have knocked 122 baseballs out of the stadium. They have 395 RBI's as well as 745 base knocks this season, while their team batting average is at .241. Houston is slugging .410 and have been called out on strikes 754 times, while being walked on 302 occasions.

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The Astros have a team earned run average of 4.72 on the season (25th in the league), and their staff has rung up 795 batters. Astros pitchers have surrendered 124 home runs and also 457 total runs (25th in MLB). They have walked 397 opposing batters and their FIP sits at 4.80 as a unit for the year. Houston has given up 730 base hits (8.1 per 9 innings) and 428 earned runs. They have a K/BB ratio of 2.00 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.38.

The Astros bullpen have accumulated a save percentage of 84.4% and have entered the game in 73 save situations. They have earned 27 saves on the season and have blown 5 out of their 32 save chances. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 128 runners on the season and 27.3% of those runners ended up crossing the plate. Astros pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 85 times as well as having 86 appearances in high leverage situations. The Astros have dispatched 286 relief pitchers to the hill for the year. The relief pitchers are sitting with 41 holds on the year (23rd in baseball).

The Astros have turned 70.9% of baseballs in play into outs in their 7,338 innings, which ranks them 8th in pro baseball. The Houston Astros have amassed 2,446 putouts on the campaign, as well as 687 assists and 38 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .988 which has them sitting 7th in the majors, and they have turned 78 double plays.

Imai has thrown 48 innings and has earned 60 K's so far in his pro baseball career. His ERA is 6.17 (33 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.476. He has given up 41 base knocks (7.7 hits per 9 innings) and has 30 walks. Imai (5-4 record in his career) has earned a FIP of 6.08 while going up against 215 opposing batters in the majors.

The Nationals have a team SLG% of .430 and they average 5.33 runs per game (1st in baseball). They have 156 two-baggers, while getting a free base 307 times and putting up 485 runs. Washington has hit 125 home runs so far this year to go along with 461 RBIs. They have been rung up on 755 occasions (13th in MLB) and have earned 776 hits. The Washington Nationals have earned a team OBP of .323 in addition to a team batting average of .249 on the campaign.

The Nationals have a team WHIP of 1.395 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.71 as a squad over the course of the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 7.90 (720 strikeouts vs 320 walks). They are sitting at 28th in baseball as a staff in total hits relinquished with 819. They have given up 126 homers and they give up 5.25 runs per 9 innings (28th in the league). The Washington pitching staff have surrendered 476 runs for the season while holding an ERA of 4.72 (428 earned runs surrendered).

With 106 save situations, the Nationals have tallied 50 holds in addition to 25 blown saves. Washington has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the hill in 51 save opportunities and they have come away with 26 saves. Washington bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 45.5% out of 134 inherited runners. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 101 times in high leverage situations in addition to 88 occasions with runners on base. They rank 27th in baseball with a save rate of 51.0%, and they have sent 291 bullpen pitchers to the hill on the campaign.

Out of their 7,350 innings on the diamond, the Nationals hold a defensive efficiency of 68.8% (27th in pro baseball). The Washington Nationals have gotten 70 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .979 (30th in professional baseball). The Nationals have 828 assists, 72 errors and have notched a total of 2,450 putouts this season.

In his pro baseball career, Alvarez has allowed 57 base knocks while he has tallied 68 punch outs in 64 frames. Alvarez (3-2 career win-loss mark) is the owner of a 2.80 earned run average and has surrendered 8.0 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered 20 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.293 and being the owner of a FIP of 2.8. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.62 and he has gone up against 272 opposing hitters so far in his career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Washington (+150)

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