Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals: MLB Best Bets (5/22)

Two NL East teams go head-to-head for the second time this season. Yesterday’s contest was rained out, but today we hopefully get to see both squads take the field. The Atlanta Braves are in the nation’s capital as they face the Washington Nationals.

These two teams already played one series this season down in Atlanta. The Braves won three of those four contests at home, although the Nationals put up plenty of a fight. The Nationals actually hosted Atlanta on Tuesday where they beat them 5-3 at home before Wednesday’s matchup was postponed. Tonight the series ends, and the hosts are looking to even up the overall season series.

Can they do so at home? Or will the Braves assert their dominance once again?

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Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals: NL East Showdown

Matchup Information – Braves vs. Nationals

• Venue & Location: Nationals Park (Washington, D.C.)
• Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
• First Pitch: 6:45 p.m. Eastern

Pitching Matchup

• Atlanta Braves: AJ Smith-Shawver (3-2, 2.33 ERA, 1.24 WHIP)
• Washington Nationals: Trevor Williams (2-5, 5.91 ERA, 1.53 WHIP)

Betting Odds

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Run Line

• Braves -1.5 (+105)
• Nationals +1.5 (-125)

Moneyline

• Braves -150
• Nationals +136

Total

• Over 8.5 (-105)
• Under 8.5 (-115)

Atlanta currently sits in 3rd place of the NL East, a full 6.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in first. The Nationals are currently in 4th, but they sit nine games out of the top of the division, a full 2.5 games behind the Braves. However, they already got one back in this series and have a chance to get another tonight with a win.

But, Trevor Williams is on the mound and he’s gotten shelled so far this season. The dude’s posting nearly a 6.00 ERA and over a 1.50 WHIP. Tonight I trust the Braves hitters to rack up plenty of hits, turn them into runs, and win this game. And I’ll also be on a specific hitter to keep things going.

Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals Best Bets

Braves vs. Nationals Prediction: Braves Win, Over 8.5

Best Bets: Braves ML/Marcell Ozuna Hit (+105) BetOnline

Give me Atlanta and give me Ozuna. But first let’s talk about the Nationals pitcher.

Trevor Williams has allowed 3+ earned runs in four straight starts, and 7/9 this season. He’s allowed 5+ hits in 8/9 outings as well, and his last time out, he allowed four runs on five hits to the Braves. Sure, he’s got another shot at them tonight, but I trust the visitors to take advantage.

Four of Williams’ five pitches are below league average, including his four seam fastball and his sweeper, which he throws over 66% of the time. His only pitch above league average is his slider, which is his least used pitch. As a team, the Braves’ average drops on the road, but it’s up from .246 to .256 when facing right handed pitchers. Plus, one guy does particularly well.

Marcell Ozuna saw Williams twice in their earlier matchup, lining out on a hard hit ball to third and grounding out to first base. However, the guy has a .314 average in 35 at bats against Williams, posting 10 singles and a double along with four RBIs. Recently, Ozuna is currently on a three game hitting streak, with four total in that stretch, and had a hit in 3/4 against Washington earlier this year (four total hits). His .266 average leaps to .279 against RHP, and tonight I see him contributing to a Braves victory.

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