Padres vs Nationals Picks and Prediction – 7/18/2025

In Friday night MLB action, the San Diego Padres will invade the nation’s capital to face the Washington Nationals. Be ready for the baseball season with all of our MLB predictions. The Padres (52-44) have won six of their last ten games and trail NL West Division Los Angeles by 5.5 games. Last time out, San Diego batters went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left ten men on base during a 2-1 home loss versus Philadelphia. 

Twenty-nine year old righty Dylan Cease (3-9 4.88 ERA) will head to the hill for the Padres in this contest. San Diego has lost Cease’s previous three starts and he has surrendered 14 runs (13 ER) across his last 16 innings. 

The Washington Nationals are looking to snap a four-game losing streak and are trapped in the NL East Division cellar. On Sunday, Washington batters managed just four hits and struck out nine times during an 8-1 road loss against Milwaukee. SP Jake Irvin (7-5) gave up three unearned runs in five innings and took the loss for the Nationals (38-58), who fell to 20-30 on the road. 

Washington interim manager Miguel Cairo will turn to righty Michael Soroka (3-7 5.35 ERA) in the series opener. Through 67 plus innings, Soroka has struck out 74 batters and owns a solid 1.16 WHIP.

Washington SS C.J. Abrams was scratched from Sunday’s game with right shoulder soreness and is expected to be ready for this contest. Through 96 games, San Diego ranks 23rd in OPS and 25th in runs scored. For the season, Washington ranks 22nd in OPS and 17th in runs scored. Take the over. Final Score Prediction, San Diego Padres win 6-5.