Colorado Rockies vs Washington Nationals Picks and Prediction for Thursday, August 27, 2026

The Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals close their four-game series Thursday at Nationals Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:05 PM ET. Colorado enters at 51-81, last in the NL West and 19.5 games behind the final National League Wild Card position. Washington is 62-72, fourth in the NL East and 9.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot. The series was tied 1-1 through Tuesday, with Washington winning 13-3 Monday before Colorado answered with a 3-1 victory Tuesday. Build your bankroll with our free MLB picks.

Colorado Rockies Look for More Road Success

Colorado enters Thursday having lost four of its last five games through Tuesday, with the lone victory coming in the 3-1 result over Washington. The Rockies are 24-43 away from home and have scored 623 runs this season. Colorado ranks fifth in MLB with a .252 batting average while posting a .321 on-base percentage and .416 slugging percentage. Hunter Goodman supplies the biggest power threat with 35 home runs and 70 RBI.

Jake McCarthy leads Colorado with a .292 batting average and has 24 stolen bases, while TJ Rumfield is batting .286 with a team-best .371 on-base percentage. The Rockies have several capable bats, but their pitching has made winning difficult. Colorado ranks last in MLB with a 5.55 ERA and 1.52 WHIP while opponents are batting .288. The Rockies have allowed 767 runs compared with 623 scored, producing a minus-144 run differential.

Injuries: Ezequiel Tovar (Day-To-Day), Kyle Karros (7-Day IL), Kris Bryant (60-Day IL), McCade Brown (60-Day IL), Kyle Freeland (15-Day IL).

Washington Nationals Try to Take the Series Finale

Washington has also struggled recently, losing four of its last five through Tuesday. The Nationals are 28-37 at Nationals Park but have produced 696 runs, considerably more than Colorado’s 623. Washington is batting .248 with a .324 on-base percentage and .430 slugging percentage. CJ Abrams has been the centerpiece, batting .276 with 29 home runs, 92 RBI, 79 runs and 26 stolen bases.

James Wood leads Washington with 30 home runs and owns a .393 on-base percentage, but he is on the 10-Day IL. The Nationals still have power elsewhere, with Luis Garcia Jr. recording 23 homers and Curtis Mead adding 17. Washington’s pitching staff owns a 4.66 ERA and 1.38 WHIP, ranking 26th in MLB. Those numbers are poor overall, but they remain significantly better than Colorado’s major-league worst pitching marks.

Injuries: Drew Millas (10-Day IL), Richard Lovelady (60-Day IL), James Wood (10-Day IL), Josiah Gray (60-Day IL), DJ Herz (60-Day IL).

Pitching Matchup

Colorado Rockies – Gabriel Hughes

Hughes is 0-5 with a 6.54 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 42.2 innings. The right-hander has allowed 43 hits, 15 walks and four home runs while striking out 35. Hughes has allowed just over one hit per inning, while 58 combined hits and walks have contributed to his high ERA through a limited workload.

Washington Nationals – Jake Irvin

Irvin is 2-8 with a 5.82 ERA and 1.36 WHIP through 77.1 innings. The right-hander has allowed 72 hits, 33 walks and 14 home runs while recording 76 strikeouts. Irvin has nearly one strikeout per inning, but his 33 walks and 14 home runs have contributed to a high ERA despite allowing fewer hits than innings pitched.

Colorado Rockies vs Washington Nationals Game Pick

Washington Nationals

Washington is the pick because its season-long numbers provide more support around an uncertain starting pitcher. The Nationals have scored 696 runs compared with Colorado’s 623 and own advantages in both team ERA and WHIP. Irvin’s 5.82 ERA creates risk, but Hughes enters 0-5 with a 6.54 ERA, while Colorado’s staff ranks last in MLB pitching. Washington also has Abrams producing 29 homers and 92 RBI. The Nationals are the play Thursday.

Colorado Rockies vs Washington Nationals Over/Under Pick

Over

Starting pitchers’ ERAs point toward a higher-scoring result even without a supplied betting total. Hughes has a 6.54 ERA, while Irvin enters with a 5.82 ERA and has surrendered 14 home runs in 77.1 innings. The team ERA’s are also very high. Colorado owns a 5.55 team ERA, and Washington stands at 4.66. The Nationals have already scored 13 runs once in this series, and both staffs have struggled throughout the season. Those pitching concerns make the over the play Thursday.