The Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals will play Game 1 of Tuesday’s doubleheader at Nationals Park in the afternoon. Atlanta crushed the Nationals in the opening game of this series and will look to set the tone for the day’s two games with a win here. Can the Braves get the job done on the road, or will Washington even this series at a game apiece? Continue reading to get my Braves vs Nationals Game 1 prediction.
Our Braves vs Nationals Game 1 Pick
- Pick: Over 9.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals
- Date & Time: Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 1:05 PM ET
- Starting Pitchers: Undecided (ATL) vs Jake Irvin (WAS)
- Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
- Broadcast: MLB Network
Key Storylines
Pitching Matchup
The Atlanta Braves have not chosen a starting pitcher yet for the opening game of this doubleheader. Atlanta is in an interesting position here, as they need to avoid relying too heavily on their bullpen in Game 1. Who they choose to start this game will have the pressure not only to perform well to get the win in this game, but to set things up nicely for the next game.
Washington is going with Jake Irvin on the mound for this contest. Irvin is 8-12 on the season and has a 5.70 ERA. He is giving up more than a hit per inning and his walk total is alarmingly high. Irvin has to be better of pounding the zone while doing a better job of limiting hard contact.
Recent team streaks
- The Braves have won their last two games and defeated the Nationals hard in their previous outing on Monday.
- The Nats have lost two of their last three games heading into Tuesday’s play.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Matt Olson | Over 1.5 Total Bases |
| James Wood | Over 1.5 Total Bases |
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Braves lead the season series 4-3 over the Nationals heading into Tuesday’s games.
- Home teams are 5-2 in games between these teams this season.
- The Braves are 31-44 on the road for the season.
- Washington is 31-44 at home for the year.
Braves vs Nationals Game 1 Model Projection
Score Projection: Braves 6 – Nationals 5
Win Probability: Braves 65%, Nationals 35%
Final Thoughts
The pitching situation for Atlanta makes it tough to pick a winner in this spot. The scoring output in this game will depend heavily on who Atlanta gives the ball to. But I think that we will see the over cash in this game, regardless of who gets the start for the Braves. The Braves had a huge game offensively in the first game of this series. They should rough up Irvin and make it so the Nationals don’t have to do too much scoring in order to reach the total of 9.5 runs.
