Cincinnati Reds vs Washington Nationals Picks and Prediction for Saturday August 8 2026
The Cincinnati Reds will visit the Washington Nationals on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Nationals Park in Washington, District of Columbia. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. ET, with the game available on MLB.TV. Cincinnati enters the weekend at 56-58 overall and 27-27 on the road, while Washington is 56-61 overall and 23-34 at home. This preview was completed before Friday's series opener, so Friday's result is not included in the records or recent-form analysis. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. For more MLB predictions throughout the season, check out our free MLB picks.
Starting Pitchers
Cincinnati is scheduled to start Chase Burns, who enters at 13-1 with a 2.35 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 118.2 innings. Burns has allowed 87 hits and 13 home runs while recording an impressive 137 strikeouts against 43 walks. Those numbers give Cincinnati a significant starting pitching advantage, particularly considering Burns has allowed fewer hits than innings pitched while maintaining one of the stronger ERAs in the league.
Washington is expected to counter with Andrew Alvarez, who is 2-3 with a 3.94 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 64.0 innings. Alvarez has allowed 62 hits and only two home runs while recording 63 strikeouts against 31 walks. The low home-run total is impressive, but his 1.45 WHIP indicates that baserunners have still been an issue. That could become important against a Cincinnati team entering Saturday on a four-game winning streak.
Reds Ride Four-Game Winning Streak Into Washington
Cincinnati enters the weekend at 56-58 overall and 27-27 on the road after winning four consecutive games. The Reds swept the Athletics in their previous series, winning 5-4, 3-2 and 6-5 after beating Pittsburgh 10-2. Their only loss over the last five games came against the Pirates by a 4-1 score. Cincinnati is therefore 4-1 over its last five completed games and has scored 25 runs during that stretch.
The Reds are batting .230 with a .310 on-base percentage and .399 slugging percentage this season. Cincinnati has scored 476 runs on 874 hits while hitting 150 home runs. The pitching staff owns a 4.42 ERA and 1.40 WHIP while recording 912 strikeouts and issuing 482 walks. Opposing hitters are batting .244 against Cincinnati pitching.
Cincinnati's season offensive numbers are not particularly impressive, but its current form and starting pitching matchup make Saturday much more favorable. The Reds have scored at least five runs in four consecutive games, and Burns gives them an opportunity to win without needing another huge offensive performance. His 2.35 ERA is more than two runs better than Cincinnati's overall team ERA, making the starting pitching matchup the Reds' clearest advantage.
Nationals Look for More Consistency at Home
Washington enters the weekend at 56-61 overall with a 23-34 record at Nationals Park. The Nationals are just 1-4 over their last five completed games after losing 7-3 to Philadelphia on Thursday. Washington's lone victory during that stretch was a 10-4 win in 11 innings against the Phillies. The Nationals also lost 5-0 and 6-3 in Philadelphia after dropping a 4-2 game against Atlanta.
The Nationals have been the substantially stronger offensive team over the full season. Washington is batting .250 with a .327 on-base percentage and .439 slugging percentage. The Nationals have scored 623 runs on 1,004 hits while hitting 168 home runs. Their pitching staff owns a 4.78 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 879 strikeouts and 411 walks. Opposing hitters are batting .261 against Washington pitching.
Washington's offensive numbers normally would make the Nationals attractive against a Cincinnati staff with a 4.42 ERA, but Saturday is not an average matchup. Burns has dramatically outperformed the Reds' overall pitching staff and has allowed only 87 hits through 118.2 innings. Washington has also struggled recently, scoring just 18 runs across its last five games, with 10 of those runs coming in one extra-inning victory.
Cincinnati Reds vs Washington Nationals Picks and Prediction
- Pick: Cincinnati Reds Moneyline
I'm taking the Cincinnati Reds on the moneyline. Washington owns the stronger season offensive numbers, but the starting pitching advantage is substantial enough for me to favor Cincinnati. Burns enters at 13-1 with a 2.35 ERA and 1.10 WHIP, compared with Alvarez at 2-3 with a 3.94 ERA and 1.45 WHIP.
Recent form also favors Cincinnati. The Reds have won four straight while Washington has lost four of its last five. Cincinnati has also scored 25 runs over its last five games, while the Nationals have produced only 18. With Burns on the mound and Washington sitting at just 23-34 at home, I'll back Cincinnati to continue its winning streak.
- Pick: Under 8.5
I'm taking the Under if the total is set around 8.5. Washington's season offensive numbers are strong, but Burns is not an ordinary matchup. He has a 2.35 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 137 strikeouts through 118.2 innings, and he has surrendered only 13 home runs.
Alvarez also has some characteristics that support a lower-scoring game. Despite his 1.45 WHIP, he has allowed only two home runs over 64 innings. Cincinnati is batting only .230 for the season, so I'm not expecting the Reds to overwhelm him. If Burns limits Washington and Alvarez keeps the ball in the park, this game has a good chance to stay below 8.5.
This preview was written prior to game play on Friday.