Washington Nationals vs Texas Rangers Prediction, 8/20/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Texas Rangers

Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026

Location: Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX

TV: Rangers Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Washington (+125) Texas (-150)

The Texas Rangers (62-64) will take on the Washington Nationals (60-67) at Globe Life Field on Thursday. The line on this matchup has Washington at +125 and Texas is opening at -150. The over/under has been set at 8. The pitchers taking the mound will be Andrew Alvarez and Jacob deGrom.

Washington is slugging .436 and have been rung up 1,062 times, while drawing a walk on 439 occasions. They have accrued 641 runs batted in as well as 1,090 base knocks this year, while their batting average is .250. The Nationals have accumulated 215 two-baggers as a team and have hit 180 baseballs out of the park. They have earned a total of 670 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .326. As a team, the Washington Nationals are knocking in 5.3 runs per game, which has them at 1st in MLB.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.17 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.39. Nationals pitchers have yielded 177 home runs and also 657 runs (28th in the league). Washington has surrendered 1,127 base knocks (9.0 per 9 innings) and 594 earned runs. The Nationals have an earned run average of 4.73 this year (27th in baseball), and the staff has struck out 970 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 447 players from the other team and their FIP comes in at 4.76 as a team this year.

Nationals bullpen pitchers have come into the game with runners on base 129 times as well as having 136 appearances in high leverage situations. The relievers have a total of 64 holds on the campaign (18th in the league). The Nationals relievers have a save rate of 50.8% and have stepped onto the mound in 134 save situations. They have compiled 33 saves this season and have blown 32 of 65 chances to save the game. The relievers have inherited 201 runners on the campaign and 42.8% of them ended up scoring. The Nationals have dispatched 400 relievers to the mound for the season.

The Nationals have transformed 69.2% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 10,170 innings on the field, which ranks them 25th in pro baseball. The Washington Nationals have earned a total of 3,390 putouts so far this season, as well as 1,165 assists and 89 errors. Their fielding rate is holding steady at .981 which is 30th in MLB, and they have turned 110 double plays.

Alvarez (3-5 mark in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 3.34 and he has faced 415 hitters in the majors. He has conceded 83 base hits (7.6 hits per 9 innings) with 43 free passes. His earned run average is 3.39 (37 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.284. Alvarez has taken the ball for 98 innings and has racked up 89 K's so far in his MLB career.

Texas has accounted for 140 home runs this year as well as 494 RBIs. They have 179 two-baggers, while getting a free base 403 times and putting up 512 runs. The Texas Rangers have recorded an OBP of .316 in addition to a team batting average of .243 for the season. The Rangers have a team slugging % of .395 and they have an average of 4.06 runs per outing (25th in the league). They have been called out on strikes on 1,074 instances (14th in MLB) and have a total of 1,017 base knocks.

The Rangers have a team WHIP of 1.300 and have a FIP of 4.14 as a squad on the season. Their K/BB ratio sits at 8.60 (1,052 strikeouts against 375 walks). They are currently ranked 21st in the league as a staff in total hits conceded with 1,058. They have surrendered 153 homers and they surrender 4.52 runs per 9 innings (17th in the league). The Texas pitching staff have given up 554 runs on the campaign while having an ERA of 4.27 (523 earned runs allowed).

Texas relievers have an inherited score percentage of 31.0% out of their 171 inherited runners. Their relievers have come in 123 times in high leverage situations and also on 113 occasions with runners on. With 116 save situations, the Rangers have accrued 63 holds and 16 blown saves. They are ranked 10th in MLB with a save rate of 68.6%, and they have dispatched 408 relief pitchers to the hill on the season.

Out of their 9,921 innings on the diamond, the Rangers have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 69.6% (17th in baseball). The Texas Rangers have turned 80 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .988 (6th in MLB). The Rangers have accrued 971 assists, 53 errors and have earned a total of 3,307 putouts this year.

So far in his MLB career, deGrom has given up 1,283 base knocks and he has 1,998 K's in 1,659 frames. deGrom (104-73 career mark) has earned a 2.67 earned run average while giving up 7.0 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed 493 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.000 and having a FIP of 2.6. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 5.31 and he has gone up against 6,543 batters in his career.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Washington (+125)

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