San Diego Padres vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 5/31/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: San Diego Padres vs Washington Nationals

Date: Sunday, May 31, 2026

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: Nationals.TV

Odds/Point Spread: San Diego (-152) Washington (+126)

The San Diego Padres (31-24) are on their way to Nationals Park on Sunday where they will try to beat the Washington Nationals (29-28). The line on this contest has San Diego at -152 while Washington is priced at +126. The over/under is 8.5. The pitchers who are expected to start will be Griffin Canning and Zack Littell.

San Diego has a slugging percentage of .361 and have struck out 468 times, while taking a walk on 175 occasions. They have 207 runs batted in in addition to 389 hits so far this year, while their average at the plate is .218. The Padres have earned 77 two-baggers as a unit and have smacked 55 balls out of the park. They have tallied 214 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .291. As a squad, the San Diego Padres are earning 3.9 runs per game, which is 24th in MLB.

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They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.44 and their pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.24. Padres pitchers have conceded 48 home runs and also 215 runs in total (5th in the league). San Diego has given up 420 base hits (7.7 per 9 innings) in addition to 209 earned runs. The Padres have compiled a team ERA of 3.83 so far this season (11th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 466 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 191 opposing players and their FIP is 3.75 as a squad for the year.

The Padres have sent 183 relief pitchers to the hill on the year. The relievers have inherited 88 base runners this season with 33.0% of those runners ended up scoring. The bullpen have 37 holds so far this year (9th in baseball). Padres pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 50 times as well as having 58 appearances in high leverage situations. They have earned 19 saves so far this season and have blown 8 out of their 27 save opportunities. The Padres relief pitchers have a save rate of 70.4% and have stepped onto the mound in 66 save situations.

The Padres have converted 71.1% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 4,419 innings, which has them sitting 8th in the majors. The San Diego Padres have notched a total of 1,473 putouts this season, in addition to 488 assists and 16 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .992 which puts them in 1st in baseball, and have accumulated 45 double plays.

Canning (32-40 win-loss mark in his career) has a FIP of 4.69 while he has gone up against 2,601 opposing batters during his time in the majors. He has conceded 586 hits (8.7 hits per 9 innings) and has had 231 free passes. His earned run average is 4.76 (321 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.348. Canning has pitched in 606 frames and is sitting with 577 K's during his career.

The Nationals hold a team slugging % of .420 and they average 5.37 runs per game (1st in baseball). They have tallied 110 doubles, while getting a free base 206 times and putting up 306 runs. Washington has compiled 72 home runs this season and 288 runs batted in. They have struck out on 480 occasions (13th in the league) and have totaled 482 base hits. The Washington Nationals have a team OBP of .324 as well as a team batting average of .245 for the year.

The Nationals have a WHIP of 1.380 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.64 as a squad this year. Their K/BB ratio sits at 7.90 (452 strikeouts against 203 bases on balls). They come in at 29th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 508. They have yielded 77 dingers and they relinquish 5.42 runs per 9 innings (29th in MLB). The Washington pitching staff have allowed 310 runs this season while holding a team ERA of 4.65 (266 earned runs surrendered).

Sitting with 64 save situations, the Nationals have tallied 29 holds in addition to 14 blown saves. Washington has called on relievers to step onto the mound in 31 save opportunities and they have earned 17 saves. Washington bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 46.8% out of their 77 inherited base runners. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 67 times in high leverage situations and also on 56 occasions with runners on base. They are ranked 27th in baseball with a save percentage of 54.8%, and they have sent 185 relievers to the mound on the season.

Out of their 4,641 innings on the diamond, the Nationals hold a defensive efficiency of 69.0% (26th in MLB). The Washington Nationals have turned 40 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .976 (30th in baseball). The Nationals have recorded 500 assists, 51 errors and are sitting with 1,547 putouts over the course of the season.

Littell (38-33 mark in his career) holds a 4.00 earned run average and has allowed 9.0 hits per 9 innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.46 and he has gone up against 2,749 opposing hitters during his career. He has given up a total of 291 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.230 and a FIP of 3.9. During his pro baseball career, Littell has given up 654 hits and he has 526 punch outs in 655 innings.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Washington (+126)

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