Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 7/5/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington Nationals

Date: Sunday, July 5, 2026

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: Nationals.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Pittsburgh (-128) Washington (+106)

The Washington Nationals (45-43) will try to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates (44-44) at Nationals Park on Sunday. The moneyline on this contest has Pittsburgh at -128 and Washington is coming in at +106. The betting total comes in at 8.5. The pitchers who are expected to start will be Bubba Chandler and Miles Mikolas.

Pittsburgh has a slugging rate of .421 and have been rung up 834 times, while drawing a walk on 330 occasions. They have earned 433 RBI's and 794 base knocks for the season, and their batting average sits at .260. The Pirates have recorded 139 two-baggers as a team and have knocked 111 baseballs out of the park. They have racked up 452 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .338. As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates are scoring 5.1 runs per contest, which has them at 4th in the league.

Get all of our MLB Expert Picks

The Pirates are sitting with a team earned run average of 4.24 so far this year (17th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 812 batters. Pirates pitchers have allowed 88 long balls and also 427 runs (22nd in MLB). They have walked 318 players from the other team and their FIP is 3.92 as a squad so far this season. Pittsburgh has surrendered 708 base knocks (8.1 per 9 innings) and 371 earned runs. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.55 and the pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.31.

Pirates pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on 83 times and also have had 80 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have racked up 42 holds so far this year (19th in baseball). The Pirates relief pitchers have accumulated a save rate of 50.0% and have entered the game in 77 save situations. They have recorded 17 saves so far this season and have blown 17 of their 34 save opportunities. The relief pitchers have inherited 116 runners on the season and 31.9% of those runners crossing home plate. The Pirates have dispatched 280 relief pitchers to the hill this season.

The Pirates have turned 69.0% of balls hit into play into outs out of 7,080 innings, which has them ranked 24th in the majors. The Pittsburgh Pirates have 2,360 putouts this year, as well as 697 assists and 56 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .982 which has them sitting 27th in pro baseball, and they have turned 64 double plays.

Chandler (7-9 win-loss mark in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 4.42 while going up against 503 opposing batters during his time in the majors. He has allowed 96 hits (7.4 hits per 9 innings) with 52 walks. His ERA is 4.49 (58 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.273. Chandler has taken the hill for 116 innings and has racked up 110 punch outs in his MLB career.

The Washington Nationals are sitting with an OBP of .321 as well as a team batting average of .248 on the year. They have struck out on 738 occasions (12th in the league) and have accounted for 748 base knocks. Washington has tallied 117 home runs for the year to go along with 446 runs batted in. The Nationals hold a slugging percentage of .426 and they average 5.34 runs per game (2nd in MLB). They have recorded 153 doubles, while taking a walk 294 times and putting up 470 runs.

The Nationals have a WHIP of 1.381 and have a FIP of 4.73 as a squad so far this year. They come in at 28th in the league as a staff in total hits surrendered with 782. The Washington pitching staff have yielded 453 runs on the season while having an ERA of 4.63 (406 earned runs yielded). Their K/BB ratio sits at 7.90 (694 strikeouts against 308 free passes). They have conceded 123 long balls and they relinquish 5.17 runs per 9 innings (26th in baseball).

With 105 save situations, the Nationals have accrued 49 holds and 25 blown saves. Washington has had bullpen pitchers step onto the mound in 51 save opportunities and they have earned 26 saves. Washington relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 46.0% of 126 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have come in 98 times in high leverage situations and on 85 occasions with runners on. They are ranked 27th in baseball holding a save rate of 51.0%, and they have sent 280 relief pitchers to the mound so far this season.

The Washington Nationals have gotten 67 double plays and have a fielding rate of .979 (30th in professional baseball). The Nationals have recorded 796 assists, 69 errors and have a total of 2,369 putouts over the course of the season. Out of their 7,107 innings on the diamond, the Nationals have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 69.2% (23rd in pro baseball).

Mikolas (74-82 record in his career) has earned a 4.32 earned run average and has given up 9.2 hits per 9 innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.58 and he has faced 5,575 opposing batters in his career. He has surrendered 641 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.221 and a FIP of 4.3. During his pro baseball career, Mikolas has given up 1,369 hits and he has 942 strikeouts in 1,336 innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (-128)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get MLB picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.