Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins Prediction, 5/8/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins

Date: Friday, May 8, 2026

Location: LoanDepot Park in Miami, FL

TV: MLB.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Washington (+110) Miami (-130)

LoanDepot Park is where the Miami Marlins (16-21) will meet the Washington Nationals (17-20) on Friday. The moneyline on this contest has the Nationals at +110 and the Marlins are coming in at -130. The total has been set at 8.5. The starting pitchers are Foster Griffin and Janson Junk.

As a squad, the Washington Nationals are notching 5.4 runs per outing, which is 4th in MLB. They have racked up 198 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .321. The Nationals have earned 65 two-baggers as a team and have hit 41 balls out of the park. They have compiled 184 runs batted in and 308 base knocks for the season, while their average at the plate is at .241. Washington has a slugging rate of .395 and have been called out on strikes 324 times, while drawing a walk on 135 occasions.

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The Nationals have an ERA of 4.82 for the year (28th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 277 hitters. Nationals pitchers have allowed 54 home runs and also 210 runs in total (29th in baseball). They have walked 146 players from the other team and their FIP is 5.08 as a unit so far this year. Washington has allowed 331 hits (8.9 per 9 innings) and 179 earned runs. They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 1.90 and their pitching staff holds a WHIP of 1.43.

The Nationals relievers have recorded a save rate of 44.4% and have come into the game in 41 save situations. They have compiled 8 saves over the course of the season and have not converted 10 of their 18 save chances. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 49 base runners this year with 49.0% of them crossing the plate. Nationals bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 34 times as well as having 36 appearances in high leverage situations. The Nationals have sent 123 relievers to the mound so far this year. The bullpen have accumulated 19 holds on the campaign (21st in the league).

The Washington Nationals have a tally of 1,002 putouts on the campaign, in addition to 348 assists and 34 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .975 which is 30th in pro baseball, and have 24 double plays. The Nationals have transformed 69.8% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 3,006 innings, which has them sitting 17th in pro baseball.

Griffin has pitched in 47 innings and has racked up 38 K's during his pro baseball career. Griffin (4-1 career mark) has earned a FIP of 3.01 while he has faced 201 opposing hitters during his time in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.05 (16 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.165. He has conceded 36 hits (6.9 hits per nine innings) with 19 walks.

Miami has hit 27 HRs for the season to go along with 149 runs batted in. They have recorded 57 doubles, while getting a free base 131 times and putting up 157 runs. The Miami Marlins have compiled an OBP of .330 and a batting average of .250 for the season. The Marlins hold a slugging percentage of .376 and they score 4.24 runs per contest (19th in the league). They have been called out on strikes on 307 instances (16th in the league) and have earned 306 hits.

The Marlins have a WHIP of 1.261 with a FIP of 3.87 as a squad for the year. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 8.60 (312 strikeouts vs 137 bases on balls). They come in at 6th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 273. They have allowed 31 homers and they surrender 4.54 runs per 9 innings (17th in the league). The Miami pitching staff have given up 164 runs over the course of the season while holding a team ERA of 4.10 (148 earned runs surrendered).

They are ranked 16th in baseball with a save rate of 62.5%, and they have dispatched 112 relievers to the hill on the campaign. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 32 times in high leverage situations and on 27 occasions with base runners. Sitting with 37 save situations, the Marlins have 20 holds and also 6 blown saves. Miami has had bullpen pitchers step onto the mound in 16 save opportunities and they have walked away with 10 saves. Miami relief pitchers have an inherited score rate of 26.8% out of 41 inherited base runners.

In 2,931 innings played, the Marlins are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 71.0% (9th in baseball). The Miami Marlins have gotten 22 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .980 (29th in pro baseball). The Marlins have accrued 289 assists, 26 errors and have amassed 977 putouts this year.

In his career, Junk has conceded 204 base hits while accumulating 138 punch outs in 188 frames. He has allowed a total of 93 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.255 and a FIP of 4.4. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 4.31 and he has gone up against 791 opposing batters so far in his career. Junk (9-10 win-loss mark in his career) has a 4.45 earned run average while allowing 9.8 hits per nine innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Miami (-130)

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