Washington Nationals vs Cleveland Guardians Picks and Prediction for Monday May 25 2026
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The Washington Nationals travel to take on the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, May 25, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 PM ET with coverage available on MLB.TV. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free MLB picks.
Starting Pitchers Set for Monday Night Matchup
Washington is expected to send Zack Littell to the mound for this contest. Littell enters with a 3-4 record alongside a 5.83 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP over 46.1 innings pitched. He has allowed 52 hits and 15 home runs while striking out 23 batters and walking 15. Cleveland is projected to counter with Tanner Bibee, who owns a 0-6 record despite posting a 3.75 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP across 60 innings. He has surrendered 54 hits and seven home runs while recording 52 strikeouts and issuing 21 walks this season.
Washington Looking to Stay Competitive on the Road
The Nationals enter this matchup with a 26-27 overall record and an impressive 16-11 road record this season. Washington recently won over Atlanta by a 2-0 score after recently losing to the Braves 5-4 in 11 innings. Before that, the Nationals split a series with New York by recently winning over the Mets 8-4 and 9-6 before recently losing 2-1. Washington has remained competitive offensively throughout much of the season and has shown the ability to score in bunches during key stretches.
Washington is batting .243 as a team while scoring 286 runs with 445 hits and 65 home runs. The Nationals also carry a .323 on-base percentage and a .416 slugging percentage entering this matchup. On the mound, Washington owns a 4.87 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP while allowing opponents to hit .255 against them. The pitching staff has recorded 423 strikeouts while issuing 191 walks this season.
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One major strength for Washington has been offensive production. The Nationals have scored 286 runs this season, significantly more than Cleveland entering this matchup, and the club has also hit 65 home runs. However, the pitching numbers remain an area of concern with the Nationals carrying a 4.87 ERA and allowing opponents to hit .255 overall.
Cleveland Riding Strong Recent Form
The Guardians come into this game with a 31-23 overall record and a 15-10 home mark this season. Cleveland recently lost to Philadelphia 3-0 after previously recently winning over the Phillies 1-0. Before that, the Guardians recently won over Detroit in three straight games by scores of 4-3, 3-2 in 10 innings, and 3-1. Cleveland has won four of its last five games overall and continues to rely heavily on pitching and close-game execution.
Cleveland is batting .227 on the season while scoring 229 runs with 400 hits and 54 home runs. The Guardians own a .320 on-base percentage and a .372 slugging percentage entering this matchup. The pitching staff has been the standout statistically with a 3.59 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP while limiting opponents to a .232 batting average. Cleveland has also recorded 505 strikeouts this season, one of the strongest totals provided in these matchups.
A major advantage for Cleveland entering this game is its pitching consistency. The Guardians have a significantly lower ERA and opposing batting average than Washington, and the staff has generated 505 strikeouts this season. Cleveland has also shown the ability to win tight games recently, allowing only four total runs across its last four victories.
Washington Nationals vs Cleveland Guardians Picks and Prediction
Washington Nationals vs Cleveland Guardians Pick
- Pick: Cleveland Guardians Moneyline
Cleveland enters this matchup with the stronger overall pitching numbers and better recent form. The Guardians have won four of their last five games while allowing very few runs during that stretch. Cleveland also holds advantages in ERA, WHIP, opposing batting average, and strikeouts entering this contest. While Washington has been productive offensively at times, the Nationals have struggled consistently on the mound, making Cleveland the stronger option at home.
Washington Nationals vs Cleveland Guardians Total Pick
- Pick: Under 8
I would lean toward the under in this matchup because Cleveland has consistently played lower-scoring games recently. The Guardians recently won games by scores of 1-0, 3-1, 3-2, and 4-3 while relying heavily on pitching strength. Cleveland also owns a 3.59 ERA and allows opponents to hit only .232 against them. Even though Washington has shown some offensive upside, the Guardians’ pitching staff has been the most reliable unit entering this matchup.
Final Score Prediction: Cleveland Guardians 4 – Washington Nationals 3
This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Sunday.
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