It’s a tale of two teams headed in opposite directions tonight. The Tigers are the class of the American League, pacing the junior circuit with a 53-32 record. On the other side are the Nationals, losers in 15 of their last 20 games. Will Detroit continue to roll, or can Washington pull off an upset win? Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Wednesday’s Game 2 contest between the Tigers and Nationals.
The Tigers are favorites (-113) over the Nationals, with the over/under set at eight runs. Let’s break down which side has the edge on DraftKings Sportsbook entering tonight’s inter-league matchup.
Tigers at Nationals prediction, preview
After getting blown out in Game 1, the Nationals will look to bounce back with their ace on the mound. MacKenzie Gore, the key piece in 2022’s Juan Soto trade, has enjoyed a breakout season. Over 99.0 innings pitched, the hurler owns a 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a league-leading 11.5 K/9 ratio. At this point, the southpaw has established himself as one of baseball’s premier strikeout artists. Last week against San Diego, the 26-year-old tossed six innings of one-run ball.
Detroit’s arms get most of the acclaim, but there’s a lot to like about this lineup as well. Riley Greene is a stealth MVP candidate, especially after launching two home runs this afternoon. Spencer Torkelson has been terrific as well, notching an impressive 121 wRC+. Offseason pickup Gleyber Torres is in position to serve as a starter for this year’s American League All-Star team. With that being said, this group is susceptible to whiffs. The Tigers are averaging 9.07 strikeouts per game away from home, the ninth-highest mark in baseball. However, this group ranks first in batting average (.274) and second in OPS (.797) against left-handed pitching.
Almost every move the Tigers made last winter has worked out. If there’s an exception, it’s bringing back Jack Flaherty. Detroit re-signed the veteran, who spent 2023 and part of 2024 in Motown. So far, the results have not been great for the right-hander. Through 16 starts, Flaherty has posted a 4.80 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. Over his last three appearances, the 29-year-old has surrendered 18 earned runs (12.46 ERA).
As bad as Flaherty has been recently, the same can be said for this Nationals lineup. Washington scored 102 total runs in the month of June, the fewest for any National League squad. For the most part, this offense is a two-man show between James Wood and C.J. Abrams. Only two other D.C. regulars, Alex Call and Amed Rosario, have a wRC+ over 100. One piece of good news for the Nats? They did score a combined 24 runs during their weekend series with the Angels.
Tigers at Nationals pick, best bet
Best Bet: Tigers Nationals over eight total runs (-119)
The Tigers are the more talented team, but Washington has a decisive edge on the mound. Still, Detroit’s success against lefties leaves Gore somewhat vulnerable. Assuming Flaherty’s struggles continue, I’d expect plenty of scoring on Wednesday.
