Pittsburgh Pirates (5-11) vs Washington Nationals (6-9)
Game Info: Monday, April 14, 2025 at 6:40 pm (PNC Park)
The Line: Betting Odds: Pittsburgh Pirates -218 / Washington Nationals +180 — Over/Under: 7
The Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet on Monday in MLB action from PNC Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Washington Nationals will send out Brad Lord for the start here, and Lord is 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 4 strikeouts this season. This will be Lord’s first career start against the Pirates. The Pittsburgh Pirates will send out Paul Skenes for the start here, and Skenes is 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA and 20 strikeouts this season. This will be Skenes’ first career start against the Nationals.
Washington Nationals Recap
The Washington Nationals come into this game looking to bounce back after an 11-4 loss to the Miami Marlins in Sunday’s rubber match to fall to 6-9 on the year. After this series, the Nationals will head on the road for a weekend series at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies.
Nationals Lose Back-To-Back Games
Keibert Ruiz has a team-high 19 hits with a pair of doubles and a pair of home runs with 10 RBIs, while James Wood has 14 hits with 3 doubles and a team-high 5 home runs along with 11 RBIs. Nathaniel Lowe has 13 hits with a team-high 4 doubles and 15 RBIs, along with 3 home runs and 21 strikeouts. CJ Abrams has 4 home runs and 7 RBIs along with a team-high 4 stolen bases, while Paul DeJong has 4 doubles of his own and a team-high 22 strikeouts as well this season.
Why the Washington Nationals will win
- The underdogs have won each of the Pirates’ last four games at PNC Park.
- The Pirates have lost four of their last five games as favorites against National League opponents.
- The Nationals have covered the run line in each of their last nine Monday road games against National League opponents.
- The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games as favorites.
Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts
- Nathaniel Lowe has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four road appearances against NL opponents.
- Paul DeJong has recorded at least one Single in each of his last seven appearances in night games against NL teams that held a losing record.
- Keibert Ruiz has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances after playing the previous day.
- CJ Abrams has scored a run in six of his last seven appearances with the Nationals as underdogs.
- CJ Abrams has hit a home run in three of his last five appearances with the Nationals as underdogs.
- Keibert Ruiz ranks 2nd amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.373) this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates Recap
The Pittsburgh Pirates come into this game looking to bounce back after being swept by the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend, thanks to a 4-0 loss in Sunday’s series finale. After this series, the Pirates will welcome the Cleveland Guardians to town for an interleague series.
Pirates Lose Three Straight
Isiah Kiner-Falefa has a team-high 13 hits and a .260 batting average, along with 4 stolen bases, while Oneil Cruz has a team-high 2 home runs, 5 RBIs, and 8 stolen bases. Ke’Bryan Hayes has added 11 hits with a double, a triple, a home run, and 5 RBIs, while Bryan Reynolds has 13 hits with 4 doubles, 2 home runs, and 6 RBIs but also has a team-high 23 strikeouts as well this season. Adam Frazier has also chipped in 6 RBIs of his own this season.
Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win
- The Nationals have lost each of their last 15 night games following a road loss.
- The Pirates have won seven of their last eight night games against NL East opponents.
- The Pirates have covered the run line in seven of their last eight home games against NL East opponents following a loss.
- The Nationals have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight night games against National League opponents following a road loss.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one Double in each of the Pirates’ last four games as home favorites.
- Adam Frazier has scored at least one run in nine of his last 10 appearances at PNC Park against NL East opponents that held a losing record.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Pirates’ last eight games as home favorites.
- Tommy Pham has recorded at least one Single in each of his last 12 appearances against NL East opponents that held a losing record.
- Tommy Pham has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances against NL East opponents that held a losing record.
- Andrew McCutchen has hit a home run in six of his last 10 home appearances against the Nationals.
- Oneil Cruz ranks 1st in the league in Steals (8) this season.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Nationals’ last nine night games against NL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Five of the Pirates’ last six home games have gone OVER the total runs line.
Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction
I’m on the Nationals here. I get the case to be made for Pittsburgh when Paul Skenes is on the bump, but the Pirates are so inconsistent, and they’re really struggling right now against right-handed pitching. The Nationals didn’t close their series against the Marlins all that well, but I think this is just the Pirates being overpriced because of their ace getting the start in this one. Give me the Nationals and the plus money in this spot.