Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 7/8/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals

Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: Nationals.TV

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

Nationals Park is the site where the Washington Nationals (47-45) will try to beat the Houston Astros (45-48) on Wednesday. The line on this matchup has the Astros at -160 while the Nationals are sitting at +132. The over/under is 8. The expected starting pitchers will be Spencer Arrighetti and Foster Griffin.

The Astros have earned 144 doubles as a squad and have knocked 125 baseballs out of the park. Houston is slugging .413 and have struck out 760 times, while being walked on 305 occasions. As a unit, the Houston Astros are earning 4.6 runs per outing, which has them at 15th in the league. They have accrued 405 runs batted in in addition to 757 base knocks this year, and their team batting average sits at .242. They have 424 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .316.

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They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.01 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.39. Astros pitchers have yielded 127 home runs in addition to 469 total runs (27th in MLB). Houston has allowed 743 base hits (8.1 per 9 innings) and also 435 earned runs. The Astros have an ERA of 4.76 over the course of the season (25th in MLB), and their staff has rung up 804 batters. They have walked 400 opposing players and their FIP sits at 4.82 as a team on the campaign.

The Astros bullpen have recorded a save rate of 84.4% and have stepped onto the mound in 73 save situations. They have earned 27 saves on the campaign and have blown 5 of 32 chances to get a save. The relief pitchers have inherited 131 runners on the season and 29.0% of those players ended up crossing the plate. Astros relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill with opponents on base 86 times in addition to having 87 appearances in high leverage situations. The Astros have sent 289 relievers to the hill this season. The relief pitchers have notched 41 holds over the course of the season (23rd in the league).

The Astros have transformed 70.8% of balls hit into play into outs out of 7,410 innings on the diamond, ranking them 10th in the majors. The Houston Astros have notched a total of 2,470 putouts for the season, as well as 691 assists and 40 errors. Their fielding rate is at .988 which has them sitting 9th in baseball, and they have turned 78 double plays.

Arrighetti (15-22 win-loss mark in his career) holds a FIP of 4.36 while he has gone up against 1,119 batters during his time in the major leagues. He has given up 227 base hits (7.9 hits per 9 innings) with 123 walks. His earned run average is 4.43 (127 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.356. Arrighetti has thrown 258 frames and has totaled 281 punch outs in his career.

Washington has knocked in 128 home runs on the campaign as well as 473 runs batted in. They have hit 158 two-baggers, while taking a walk 310 times as well as putting up 497 runs. The Washington Nationals have an on-base percentage of .324 as well as a batting average of .250 so far this year. The Nationals have a team slugging % of .433 and they average 5.40 runs per outing (1st in the league). They have been rung up on 764 occasions (13th in the league) and have accounted for 789 base knocks.

The Nationals have a WHIP of 1.398 in addition to having a FIP of 4.74 as a pitching staff so far this season. Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 7.90 (726 strikeouts against 323 bases on balls). They are currently ranked 28th in the league as a staff in total hits surrendered with 831. They have surrendered 129 dingers and they concede 5.31 runs per 9 innings (28th in the league). The Washington pitching staff have given up 487 runs so far this season while holding an ERA of 4.79 (439 earned runs allowed).

Washington relief pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 45.5% out of their 134 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 101 times in high leverage situations in addition to 88 occasions with runners on. Sitting with 107 save situations, the Nationals have accumulated 50 holds and 25 blown saves. They sit at 26th in the league with a save rate of 51.9%, and they have dispatched 293 bullpen pitchers onto the field on the season.

In 7,431 innings on the diamond, the Nationals have earned a defensive efficiency of 68.8% (27th in professional baseball). The Washington Nationals have gotten 72 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .979 (30th in pro baseball). The Nationals have recorded 836 assists, 72 errors and have accounted for 2,477 putouts on the campaign.

Griffin (10-2 career mark) has earned a 3.16 earned run average while conceding 7.1 hits per nine innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.39 and he has faced 458 hitters during his career. He has conceded a total of 39 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.071 and having a FIP of 3.1. In his career, Griffin has given up 88 base hits while accumulating 105 punch outs in 111 frames.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Houston (-160)

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