The Washington Nationals will host the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. These two rebuilding NL East clubs will wrap a four-game set in this matchup. Washington has already been eliminated from playoff contention and the Braves are trying to avoid a similar fate by continuing to win games down the stretch. Before first pitch from Washington, you can continue reading to get my Braves vs Nationals prediction for the day.
Our Braves vs Nationals Pick
- Pick: Atlanta Braves moneyline
- Confidence: 3/5
- Get Your Bonus Bets: Click the Claim Bonus button to grab our DraftKings Sportsbook promo and bet $5 to win $200 in bonus bets INSTANTLY for this game!
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals
- Date & Time: Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 4:05 PM ET
- Starting Pitchers: Hurston Waldrep vs Brad Lord
- Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
- Broadcast: MLB.tv
Key Storylines
- Hurston Waldrep will take the mound for Atlanta in this game. He has been impressive so far in his pro career and will look to deliver another performance that turns heads in this game.
- The Braves have won the first three games of this series and are looking to complete a four-game sweep of the Nats this afternoon.
- Washington’s bullpen will look to bounce back after allowing five runs to the Braves in the top of the 10th inning on Tuesday.
Pitching matchup
Hurston Waldrep, Braves: The rookie’s four-seam fastball and splitter have played immediately against MLB hitters. He comes into this start at 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA for the season. He has avoided damaging contact with better-than-average strikeout rates since his August call-up. The lone caution for bettors is rookie volatility and Atlanta’s uneven middle relief behind him. But Waldrep’s bat-missing tools set the tone early.
Brad Lord, Nationals: Lord’s journey from long relief into starting has produced a 5-8 record, a 4.21 ERA, and a few standout outings. That includes a seven-strikeout effort earlier this month. His fastball-slider mix has been good enough to turn lineups over, though walks can push his pitch count up. Against a righty-leaning Atlanta core, his margin for error is thinner. Limiting free passes to Olson and Ozzie Albies is essential to keep this game in range for Washington’s offense.
Recent team streaks
- Atlanta has won four games in a row going into this series finale with Washington.
- The Nationals have lost three games in a row and four of their last five.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop Market | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Olson | Home Run | Over 0.5 |
| Hurston Waldrep | Strikeouts | Over 5.5 |
| Brad Lord | Strikeouts | Under 5.5 |
| James Wood | Total Bases | Over 1.5 |
| CJ Abrams | Total Bases | Under 1.5 |
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Braves hold a 6-3 lead in their season series against the Nationals.
- Atlanta has won three straight games against Washington coming into this contest.
Braves vs Nationals Model Projection
Score Projection: Braves 5 – Nationals 3
Win Probability: Braves 58%, Nationals 42%
Final Thoughts
The Braves have been a huge disappointment as a team this year. But Hurston Waldrep has not been a disappointment at all. Waldrep has been one of the few bright spots for the struggling Braves entering this matchup and I think the rookie will have another strong showing tonight. I’ll take the Braves to win on the road to close out this four-game set with a sweep of the Nationals.
