Cincinnati Reds vs Washington Nationals Picks and Prediction for Sunday August 9 2026
The Cincinnati Reds will face the Washington Nationals on Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. ET on August 9, with Peacock providing television coverage. Cincinnati enters the weekend at 56-59 overall and 27-28 on the road, while Washington is 57-61 overall and 24-34 at home. The Nationals won Friday's series opener 5-3, while Saturday's game was not completed when this preview was written. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Baseball bettors should check the latest lines closer to game time and check out our free MLB picks for more MLB predictions throughout the season.
Starting Pitchers
Brady Singer is scheduled to take the mound for Cincinnati and enters with a 5-10 record, 4.67 ERA and 1.43 WHIP while recording 97 strikeouts this season. Washington had not listed a probable starting pitcher for this game at the time this preview was written, so the Nationals' starter will not be projected here.
Cincinnati Looks for Better Results on the Road
Cincinnati comes into the weekend finale with a 56-59 overall record and sits fourth in the National League Central. The Reds have been more competitive away from home than their overall losing record might suggest, going 27-28 on the road. Cincinnati lost 5-3 to Washington on Friday after previously defeating the Athletics 6-5, 3-2, 5-4. Before those wins, the Reds won 10-2 over the Pirates, giving Cincinnati a 4-1 record over its last five completed games entering Saturday.
The Reds have not been a high-average offensive team this season. Cincinnati is batting .230 with a .310 on-base percentage, .400 slugging percentage and .710 OPS. The Reds have scored 479 runs, collected 881 hits and 153 home runs, while adding 85 stolen bases. Cincinnati has therefore generated considerably more value through its power than its ability to consistently string together hits.
That offensive profile could play an important role Sunday. Cincinnati has enough home-run power to produce runs quickly, but the .230 team batting average makes sustained rallies less dependable. The Reds may need their power to compensate for a pitching matchup in which Singer has struggled to consistently prevent opponents from reaching base.
Washington Tries to Build on Friday's Win
Washington enters Sunday's matchup with a 57-61 overall record and is fourth in the National League East. Home field has not provided a significant advantage this season, with the Nationals posting a 24-34 record at Nationals Park. Washington defeated Cincinnati 5-3 Friday after losing its previous four games, leaving the Nationals at 2-3 over their last five completed contests entering Saturday.
The Nationals have been the better offensive team statistically this season. Washington is batting .250 with a .327 on-base percentage and .439 slugging percentage. The Nationals have scored 628 runs and hit 170 home runs, giving them an advantage over Cincinnati in both overall scoring production and power.
Washington's biggest opportunity Sunday comes from its offense facing Singer. The Cincinnati starter owns a 4.67 ERA and 1.43 WHIP, which indicates that opponents have had regular opportunities to put runners on base against him. Washington has produced considerably more runs than Cincinnati this season, and that offensive advantage could become important if the Nationals can force Singer into difficult situations early.
Cincinnati Reds vs Washington Nationals Picks and Prediction
- Pick: Washington Nationals Moneyline
The Washington Nationals are the pick to win Sunday's game.
Cincinnati has the slightly better road record compared with Washington's home mark, but the Nationals hold the more productive offensive profile. Washington's .250 batting average is 20 points higher than Cincinnati's .230 mark, while the Nationals also hold advantages in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, home runs and overall scoring.
Singer is another reason to favor Washington. His 4.67 ERA and 1.43 WHIP are difficult numbers to back against a Nationals offense that has shown significantly more production this season. Washington's unidentified starter introduces some uncertainty, so this is not a matchup where the Nationals should be played at an excessive price. With the information available, however, Washington has enough offensive advantages to earn the side pick.
Take the Washington Nationals to win.
- Pick: Over 8.5
The over is the preferred total if the number is set at 8.5.
Washington has scored 628 runs this season and owns a .439 slugging percentage, while Cincinnati has hit 153 home runs despite batting only .230. That gives both offenses ways to generate multiple runs without requiring a huge number of hits.
Singer's pitching numbers also create opportunities for Washington, while the lack of a confirmed Nationals starter makes it difficult to project Washington's run prevention with much confidence. With Cincinnati's power and Washington's stronger overall offensive production, nine combined runs is a reasonable target.
Take the over if the total is set at 8.5.
Prediction: Washington Nationals 6, Cincinnati Reds 4
This preview was written prior to game play on Saturday.