Nationals vs Reds Picks and Prediction – 5/3/2025

The Washington Nationals (14-18) head to Great American Ball Park for Game 2 of a weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds (17-15) on Saturday at 4:40 PM ET. Trevor Williams gets the start for the Nats against lefty Nick Lodolo, who's been solid early this season. Washington just snapped a three-game skid with a 4-2 win over Philly, while Cincinnati crushed the Cardinals 9-1 in the last outing. Elevate your MLB game with our top-notch MLB picks.

Washington's road record hasn’t gone great, with just five wins in 16 games away from home, and a recent 1-3 stretch including a blowout loss to the Mets. Still, a bounce-back 4-2 win over Philadelphia on Thursday showed some heart. Trevor Williams has been hit hard through six starts, giving up 37 hits in 30 innings with a 5.70 ERA and 1.53 WHIP, and he's allowed four homers with only 26 strikeouts. That makes this start against a solid Reds lineup a big test.

The Nationals are allowing a .263 opponent batting average and carry a team ERA of 5.17, which puts them in a tough spot against a lineup like Cincinnati's. Offensively, the Nats are hitting .238 with a .305 OBP, ranking behind the Reds in both. Nathaniel Lowe leads with 25 RBIs and six homers, while James Wood is showing pop with nine long balls. Injuries remain a factor—Michael Soroka, Derek Law, and Tyler Stuart are among the pitchers on the IL.

Cincinnati has been up and down, but they’ve won three of the last five, including blowout wins of 9-1 and 8-1. The bats came alive again Thursday, led by Elly De La Cruz and Gavin Lux. Nick Lodolo, who starts Saturday, has been excellent: a 3-2 record, 2.25 ERA, and just 26 hits allowed in 36 innings. His 0.86 WHIP is elite, and he’s held opponents to a .206 average. 

On the pitching side, Cincinnati is in a great spot. The staff ERA sits at 3.53 with a WHIP of 1.09. Offensively, they're better than Washington across the board, .249 average, .327 OBP, and more runs (163). Elly De La Cruz and Gavin Lux are doing damage, while Austin Hays is hitting .365. Even with some minor injuries like Hays (day-to-day) and Tyler Stephenson (10-day IL), the depth has held up. 

The Reds have a huge edge on the mound with Lodolo’s 2.25 ERA compared to Williams’ 5.70. Cincinnati also leads in every major offensive category and has a better bullpen behind its starter. Washington struggles on the road, and with key injuries, it's tough to back them here. The Reds should handle business. Final Score Prediction: Cincinnati Reds win 6-3.