Nationals vs Diamondbacks Picks and Prediction – 5/31/2025

The Washington Nationals (25–30) open a three-game road series against the Arizona Diamondbacks (27–29) on Friday night at Chase Field. First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 PM ET, with broadcasts available on MASN 2 and Dbacks.TV. Both clubs sit just under .500 and are looking to gain traction in their respective divisions as the season nears the halfway point. With Jake Irvin and Merrill Kelly set to square off in the opener, fans can expect a competitive matchup between two evenly matched rosters. Get in on all the baseball action with our free MLB picks.

The Nationals enter Friday after a hard fought series with Seattle, and are looking to stabilize their form. Washington has leaned on young talent this year, with James Wood leading the offense with 15 home runs and 40 RBIs. CJ Abrams continues to bring speed and contact hitting to the top of the order, batting .280 with 9 stolen bases. On the mound, right-hander Jake Irvin (4–1, 3.42 ERA) has been one of the team's most reliable starters, showing impressive command and keeping opponents off balance throughout May.

Arizona returns home following a stretch of competitive division games and sits just below .500 in the NL West. The Diamondbacks are led offensively by Corbin Carroll, who has hit 16 home runs and driven in 35 runs while batting .259. Eugenio Suárez has also provided a power boost with 15 homers and 41 RBIs. Right-hander Merrill Kelly (5–2, 3.52 ERA) gets the nod for the opener. Kelly has been dependable for Arizona and will look to contain Washington’s improving lineup.

With both teams aiming to climb in the standings, this game feels evenly matched on paper. The Diamondbacks may have a slight edge at home with the more experienced arm in Merrill Kelly, but the Nationals’ young core continues to pose a threat. If Arizona can limit early damage and get to Washington’s bullpen, they’re in good position to take Game 1. Prediction: Diamondbacks win 5-4.