Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies Prediction, 3/31/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies

Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Location: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Odds/Point Spread: Washington (-275) Philadelphia (+220)

The Washington Nationals (2-1) are headed to Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday where they will go up against the Philadelphia Phillies (1-2). The moneyline on this game has Washington at -275 and Philadelphia is coming in at +220. The over/under has been set at 9. The pitchers expected to start will be Zack Littell and Cristopher Sanchez.

Washington has a slugging rate of .490 and have been called out on strikes 27 times, while drawing a walk on 9 occasions. They have accrued 17 runs batted in in addition to 26 hits this season, while their team batting average is at .260. The Nationals have compiled 3 two-baggers as a unit and have smacked 6 baseballs out of the park. They have earned a total of 18 runs while having a team on-base percentage of .330. As a team, the Washington Nationals are notching 6.0 runs per outing, which puts them at 6th in baseball.

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They have earned a K/BB ratio of 1.86 and their pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.35. Nationals pitchers have conceded 5 home runs and also 17 runs in total (22nd in MLB). Washington has conceded 21 hits (7.3 per 9 innings) as well as 14 earned runs. The Nationals have a team earned run average of 4.85 for the season (23rd in MLB), and they have struck out 26 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 14 opposing hitters and their FIP is 5.26 as a team on the year.

The Nationals have sent 11 relief pitchers to the mound over the course of the season. The relievers have inherited 6 runners so far this year and 33.3% of those players crossed the plate. The bullpen have notched 2 holds so far this season (16th in baseball). Nationals bullpen pitchers have entered the contest with opponents on base 4 times as well as having no appearances in high leverage situations.

The Nationals have turned 72.0% of balls in play into outs out of their 234 innings on the field, which has them sitting at 10th in the majors. The Washington Nationals have 78 putouts at this point in the season, as well as 21 assists and 5 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .952 which is 30th in baseball, and they have turned 1 double plays.

Littell has taken the ball for 602 innings and has tallied 496 strikeouts in his career. Littell (34-29 career record) has a FIP of 3.83 while he has gone up against 2,514 hitters during his time in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.89 (260 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.216. He has given up 597 base hits (8.9 hits per nine innings) and has had 135 walks.

The Phillies hold a slugging % of .278 and they tally 4.00 runs per contest (17th in baseball). They have recorded 3 doubles, while taking a walk 12 times as well as putting up 12 runs. Philadelphia has 2 home runs for the season to go along with 12 RBIs. They have struck out on 31 instances (12th in MLB) and have totaled 18 base hits. The Philadelphia Phillies hold a team on-base percentage of .292 as well as a team batting average of .186 so far this year.

The Phillies have a WHIP of 1.179 and are the owners of a FIP of 3.89 as a staff over the course of the season. They are currently ranked 18th in the league as a staff in total hits allowed with 26. The Philadelphia pitching staff have surrendered 16 runs on the year and come in with a team ERA of 4.82 (15 earned runs relinquished). Their K/BB ratio sits at 10.90 (34 strikeouts against 7 walks). They have allowed 5 dingers and they allow 5.14 runs per 9 innings (19th in the league).

Their relievers have stepped onto the hill 1 time in high leverage situations and on 2 occasions with runners on. They are ranked 9th in baseball with a save rate of 100.0%, and they have dispatched 11 bullpen pitchers to the mound this year.

Out of their 252 innings played, the Phillies have a defensive efficiency of 69.1% (18th in the majors). The Philadelphia Phillies have gotten 1 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .991 (13th in baseball). The Phillies have accrued 24 assists, 1 errors and have notched a total of 84 putouts over the course of the season.

So far in his pro baseball career, Sanchez has allowed 498 hits while he has totaled 519 punch outs in 541 innings pitched. He has given up a total of 193 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.157 and a FIP of 3.2. He has a K/BB ratio of 4.05 and he has faced 2,214 opposing hitters in his pro baseball career. Sanchez (31-21 career mark) has a 3.21 ERA while giving up 8.3 hits per 9 innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Washington (-275)

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