Washington Nationals (16-19) vs Cleveland Guardians (20-14)
Game Info: Monday, May 5, 2025 at 6:45 pm (Nationals Park)
The Line: Betting Odds: Washington Nationals -102 / Cleveland Guardians -118 — Over/Under: 8.5
The Cleveland Guardians and the Washington Nationals meet Monday in MLB action from Rogers Centre. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Cleveland Guardians vs. Washington Nationals prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Cleveland Guardians will send out Luis Ortiz for the start here, and Ortiz is 2-3 with a 4.78 ERA and 36 strikeouts this season. The Washington Nationals will send out Jake Irvin for the start here, and Irvin is 2-1 with a 4.01 ERA and 33 strikeouts this season.
Cleveland Guardians Recap
The Cleveland Guardians come into this game looking to build on their 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays from Sunday’s series finale to improve to 20-14 on the year. After this series, the Guardians will head home for a series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Guardians Win 5 Of Their Last 6
Steven Kwan leads the Guardians with 45 hits as part of a .333 batting average and 4 home runs, 6 doubles, and 16 RBIs. Kyle Manzardo has 23 hits with 3 doubles, a triple, 8 home runs, and a team-high 20 RBIs as well this year. Gabriel Arias has a team-high 6 doubles but also 32 strikeouts, and Manzardo has a team-high 33 strikeouts so far this season. Arias has also added 4 home runs and 13 RBIs, and Jose Ramirez has chipped in 5 home runs and 15 RBIs.
Why the Cleveland Guardians will win
- The Nationals have lost 15 of their last 16 night games against American League opponents following a road win.
- The Guardians have won 12 of their last 13 games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
- The Nationals have failed to cover the run line in 15 of their last 16 night games against American League opponents following a road win.
- The Guardians have covered the run line each of their last six games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts
- Jose Ramirez has recorded a Double in each of the Guardians’ last four games as favorites against NL opponents.
- Jose Ramirez has recorded at least one RBI in four of his five previous road appearances against the Nationals.
- Steven Kwan has recorded at least one Single in each of his last 11 appearances with the Guardians as road favorites.
- Lane Thomas has scored at least one run in each of his last nine appearances with his team as a road favorite against NL opponents.
- Lane Thomas has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances with his team as a road favorite against NL opponents.
- Lane Thomas has hit a home run in each of his last three appearances with his team as a favorite against NL East opponents.
- Steven Kwan ranks T2nd in the league in Hits (45) this season.
Washington Nationals Recap
The Washington Nationals come into this game looking to build on their 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds last time out to improve to 16-19 on the year as a result. After this series, the Nationals will square off in a series against the St. Louis Cardinals at home.
Nationals Looking To Build On Series Win
Keibert Ruiz has 34 hits with 4 doubles and a pair of home runs with 13 RBIs, while James Wood has 36 hits with 9 doubles and a team-high 9 home runs along with 21 RBIs. Nathaniel Lowe has 33 hits with 7 doubles and 27 RBIs, along with 6 home runs and a team-high 42 strikeouts. CJ Abrams has 4 home runs and 13 RBIs along with 6 stolen bases, while Luis Garcia Jr. has 5 doubles and 6 stolen bases of his own this season. Dylan Crews has also logged a team-high 9 stolen bases this season.
Why the Washington Nationals will win
- The Guardians have lost six of their last seven games as road favorites against National League opponents following a win.
- The underdogs have won nine of the Nationals’ last 12 games at Nationals Park.
- The Guardians have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four games as favorites following a road win.
- The underdogs have covered the run line in six of the Guardians’ last seven games.
Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts
- Josh Bell has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances with his team as a home underdog against AL opponents.
- Nathaniel Lowe has recorded at least one RBI in five of the Nationals’ last six games as underdogs.
- Josh Bell has scored a run in each of his last four home appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Keibert Ruiz has recorded a Single in each of his last eight appearances against AL opponents.
- CJ Abrams has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances in night games against teams that held a winning record.
- James Wood ranks T6th in the league in Home Runs (9) this season.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Nationals’ last 11 night games against American League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Nine of the Guardians’ last 10 road games against NL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
Cleveland Guardians vs. Washington Nationals Prediction
I’m backing the Guardians here. I just think that the Guardians are the more trustworthy team in a series like this. Sure, Luis Ortiz has probably been the weakest link or one of the weakest links in this Cleveland rotation, but Irvin hasn’t been a whole lot better, and the Guardians have a significant edge when it comes to the bullpens in this game. I just think that the Guardians have some momentum after their series win over Toronto, and while the Nationals had success in Cincinnati, I think the Guardians get it done and draw first blood here. Give me Cleveland in this one.