The Cleveland Guardians host the Washington Nationals on May 25, 2026. First pitch from Progressive Field is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on NATS.
The Guardians are favored by -180 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Nationals are +145 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Nationals vs Guardians prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Nationals vs Guardians Prediction
- Nationals vs Guardians Pick: Zack Littell Under 2.5 Strikeouts (+120, BetMGM)
My Nationals vs Guardians best bet is Zack Littell to go under his strikeout prop. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Nationals vs Guardians Odds
| Nationals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -146 | 8.5 -100o / -122u | +146 |
| Guardians Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +122 | 8.5 -100o / -122u | -174 |
- Nationals vs Guardians moneyline: Nationals +145, Guardians -180
- Nationals vs Guardians over/under: 8 (-115o / -105u)
- Nationals vs Guardians spread: Guardians -1.5 (+120 ), Nationals +1.5 (-145)
Nationals vs Guardians Probable Pitchers
| Zack Littell (RHP) | Stat | Tanner Bibee (RHP) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | W-L | 0-6 |
| -1.0 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.9 |
| 5.83/7.46 | ERA / xERA | 3.75/3.88 |
| 7.33/5.67 | FIP / xFIP | 3.97/4.09 |
| 3.8 | K-BB% | 12.4 |
| 34.1 | GB% | 37.7 |
| .240 | BABIP | .278 |
| 83 | Stuff+ | 104 |
| 96 | Location+ | 100 |
Nationals vs Guardians MLB Betting Preview
Action PRO projects Washington Nationals starter Zack Littell for 2.32 strikeouts in his matchup against the Cleveland Guardians tonight, giving us a solid edge against the market when compared to his current prop line of over/under 2.5 strikeouts, which is good enough to tag the Under with a B+ grade in our system.
Littell has recorded just 23 strikeouts through his first 10 starts of the season, totaling 46.1 innings pitched. His strikeout rate sits at a modest 4.5 K/9 early in the year, with recent outings showing low totals like three Ks over five innings against the Mets and just two against the Orioles.
Tonight, Littell will face a Cleveland Guardians lineup that has posted one of the lower strikeout rates in the majors so far this season, currently sitting around 19.8% (ranking near the bottom of MLB in K%). The Guardians emphasize contact, plate discipline, and putting the ball in play, with strong fundamentals that limit swing-and-miss opportunities for opposing starters.
Littell, a veteran right-hander who relies more on command and inducing weak contact than overpowering stuff, isn’t generating high whiff volume this season. His arsenal plays better for limiting damage than racking up strikeouts, especially over multiple innings against a patient, low-K group like Cleveland’s.
Projections see him likely exiting around the 5-inning mark without the volume needed to clear 2.5 Ks.
Pick: Zack Littell Under 2.5 Strikeouts (+120, BetMGM)
