Philadelphia Phillies vs Washington Nationals Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Wednesday June 24 2026
Use Code WWWC The Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals continue their high-stakes NL East series in the nation's capital this Wednesday, June 24, 2026, with both teams looking to secure a crucial divisional victory. This preview breaks down the pitching matchup, analyzes the best available odds, and delivers our expert picks and top MLB player props for tonight's clash.
Best Available Odds
Best Moneyline Odds: Philadelphia Phillies (-135 at BetMGM) / Washington Nationals (+110 at BetMGM)
Best Spread Odds: Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 (+118 at BetMGM) / Washington Nationals +1.5 (-145 at BetMGM)
Best Total Odds: Over 9.5 (-105 at BetMGM) / Under 9.5 (-115 at BetMGM)
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Game Info
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Time: 6:45 PM EDT
Location: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia, Nationals.TV
Weather: Approximately 83 degrees with minimal wind and no significant rain risk
Philadelphia Phillies vs Washington Nationals Preview
The Philadelphia Phillies enter Wednesday at 43-36 after producing one of the most dramatic victories of the season. Philadelphia scored eight runs with two outs in the ninth inning Tuesday to erase an 8-6 deficit and defeat Washington 14-9.
The comeback evened the four-game series after Washington won Monday's opener 4-1. Philadelphia has now won three of its last four games, including two victories during its weekend series against the New York Mets.
Tuesday's game illustrated both the strength and volatility of the Phillies lineup. Philadelphia fell behind 5-0, briefly moved ahead during the eighth inning, surrendered a three-run homer in the bottom half, and then sent 13 hitters to the plate during the decisive ninth.
Brandon Marsh tied the game with a two-run home run before Bryson Stott delivered a three-run shot that gave Philadelphia the lead. Edmundo Sosa added a two-run double after already homering earlier in the game.
Sosa finished with five RBIs while replacing Kyle Schwarber, who was scratched shortly before first pitch with lower-back tightness. Schwarber has returned to Wednesday's lineup and will bat second as the designated hitter.
Schwarber's return restores the league's leading home-run hitter to the heart of the order. He enters with 29 home runs and provides immediate protection around Trea Turner and Bryce Harper.
Harper has also heated up after an uneven start to the season. He hit for the cycle against the Mets on Saturday, homered again Sunday, and enters Wednesday batting near .270 with 17 home runs.
Marsh has been Philadelphia's most consistent contact hitter. He enters batting approximately .315 with an OPS above .850 and has homered in each of the first two games of this series.
Stott collected three hits, scored four times, and delivered the go-ahead home run Tuesday. He will bat eighth Wednesday, extending the lineup beyond Turner, Schwarber, Harper, Alec Bohm, Sosa, and Marsh.
The Phillies have struggled offensively away from Citizens Bank Park over the full season. They enter batting approximately .214 on the road with an OPS near .634, both among the lowest marks in baseball.
Those road splits require consideration, but Philadelphia is still 20-17 away from home. The Phillies have compensated for inconsistent road hitting with strong pitching, defense, and enough power to capitalize when opponents make mistakes.
The lineup also appears more dangerous than its season-long road numbers after scoring 14 runs and collecting 17 hits Tuesday. Philadelphia has now scored six or more runs in five of its last eight games.
The Phillies remain without Adolis García, whose season is over because of a right latissimus dorsi tear. Brad Keller is also on the injured list with forearm tendinitis.
Philadelphia's available lineup still contains considerable depth. Turner, Schwarber, Harper, Bohm, Sosa, Marsh, Derek Hill, Stott, and Rafael Marchán form Wednesday's confirmed batting order.
The Washington Nationals enter at 41-39 after wasting several opportunities to take control of the series. Washington led 5-0 after four innings Tuesday and carried an 8-6 advantage into the ninth before its bullpen collapsed.
Brad Lord retired the first two hitters in the ninth but could not record the final out. Ten consecutive Phillies eventually reached base as Washington cycled through multiple relievers.
The loss dropped the Nationals to 17-23 at Nationals Park. Washington has performed substantially better on the road despite possessing one of baseball's most productive home offenses.
The Nationals average approximately 5.4 runs per game, the highest mark in the majors. They have scored at a similar rate at home and have combined power, speed, contact, and on-base ability throughout the order.
James Wood leads off Wednesday against Nola. Wood enters with 20 home runs and remains Washington's most dangerous combination of plate discipline, power, and hard contact.
Curtis Mead and Dylan Crews follow Wood. Crews reached base three times and scored three runs Tuesday, continuing an encouraging stretch after an inconsistent opening two months.
CJ Abrams has also returned to the lineup after being scratched Tuesday with left-side tightness. He will bat fourth and gives Washington another left-handed power threat against Nola.
Jacob Young, Daylen Lile, Keibert Ruiz, Luis García Jr., and Nasim Nuñez complete the order. García homered in the ninth inning Tuesday and has enjoyed considerable career success against Nola.
The Nationals are especially dangerous during the late innings. They lead baseball in runs scored from the seventh inning onward, although Tuesday demonstrated that their pitching staff can surrender leads just as quickly.
Washington's bullpen remains the central weakness. Nationals pitchers possess one of baseball's lowest swing-and-miss rates, making the staff dependent on contact management and defense when protecting late leads.
That approach failed Tuesday. Lord and PJ Poulin could not stop Philadelphia once the lineup turned over, and Washington lacked a reliever capable of ending the rally with a strikeout.
The Nationals remain without several starting-pitching options. Jake Irvin, Trevor Williams, DJ Herz, Josiah Gray, and Max Kranick are unavailable or working through rehabilitation programs.
Those injuries have forced Washington to use Mikolas in several different roles. The veteran has made only six starts across 16 appearances, frequently working as a bulk reliever behind an opener.
Starting Pitchers and Pitching Matchup
The Phillies will start right-hander Aaron Nola, who enters at 3-4 with a 5.71 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 77 strikeouts across 75.2 innings.
The original draft listed Nola with an ERA around 4.58 and a WHIP of 1.24. Neither figure represents his current 2026 season.
Nola's strikeout ability remains intact. He has recorded slightly more than nine strikeouts per nine innings and continues to generate swings and misses with his curveball and changeup.
His overall effectiveness has declined because of hits, home runs, and inconsistent command. Opponents are batting approximately .282 against him, and his home-run rate has climbed close to 1.8 per nine innings.
Nola has also struggled to provide length. He has not pitched beyond the fifth inning in any of his four June starts and has worked past the fifth only once in his last eight appearances.
The right-hander completed five innings against the Mets during his latest start. He allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits and one walk while recording six strikeouts.
Two of the seven hits left the ballpark. Nola avoided a larger inning by continuing to miss bats, but he again required 97 pitches to record only 15 outs.
His road results create another concern. Nola owns an ERA above 5.50 away from Philadelphia and has allowed a considerable amount of hard contact in those appearances.
Washington is constructed to challenge those weaknesses. Wood, Abrams, Lile, García, and Ruiz can all bat from the left side, forcing Nola to navigate repeated opposite-handed matchups.
Wood represents the greatest home-run threat. Nola has struggled to keep the ball in the park, while Wood possesses the power to attack both fastballs and breaking pitches left over the middle.
Abrams and García also provide significant danger. Both can turn mistakes into extra-base hits and should receive opportunities with runners aboard if Wood, Mead, or Crews reaches base.
Nola's strikeout ability provides a path to limiting Washington. Crews, Wood, and several hitters near the bottom of the order can be vulnerable to chase pitches when Nola gets ahead.
The central question is workload. Even an effective five-inning performance will require Philadelphia to cover four innings with its bullpen.
The Phillies possess the deeper late-game pitching group. Jhoan Duran provides an established closer, while Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm, Tim Mayza, and other available relievers give Philadelphia more swing-and-miss ability than Washington.
The Nationals will counter with right-hander Miles Mikolas, who enters at 2-6 with a 5.47 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts across 74 innings.
Mikolas has appeared in 16 games but made only six starts. Washington has frequently used him for multiple innings behind an opener, allowing the veteran to avoid facing the top of an opposing lineup three or four times.
His season began disastrously. Mikolas carried an ERA above 8.00 through April and appeared in danger of losing his roster position.
He has stabilized since May. Mikolas owns a 4.03 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across his last seven appearances, allowing 36 hits while issuing only four walks over 38 innings.
His best recent performance came June 14 against Seattle. Mikolas delivered seven scoreless innings of bulk relief, allowing only three hits.
The improvement has come through command rather than increased strikeout production. Mikolas has recorded only 43 strikeouts in 74 innings and remains one of the lowest-strikeout pitchers scheduled Wednesday.
He relies on location, weak contact, and early-count outs. That approach can produce efficient innings when hitters expand the strike zone but becomes dangerous against a lineup willing to wait for hittable pitches.
Philadelphia is a difficult matchup for that profile. Schwarber, Harper, Marsh, and Stott give the Phillies four left-handed hitters capable of driving the ball, while Turner, Bohm, and Sosa can punish mistakes from the right side.
Schwarber and Harper create the greatest power risk. Mikolas cannot overpower either hitter and must consistently work around the edges of the strike zone.
Marsh presents a different problem. He enters with the highest batting average in Philadelphia's lineup and has produced both contact and power throughout the series.
Bohm has also handled Mikolas well in their previous meetings. His ability to use the opposite field gives him a path to producing hits even when Mikolas stays away from the centre of the plate.
Mikolas can still provide Washington with useful length. His low walk rate allows him to keep the pitch count manageable, and the Nationals desperately need innings after Tuesday's bullpen failure.
The risk increases each time he works through the Philadelphia order. A contact-oriented pitcher facing Schwarber, Harper, Marsh, and Stott multiple times must survive numerous balls in play without allowing a damaging home run.
Game Thesis: Both starting pitchers carry ERAs above 5.40 and have clear matchup vulnerabilities. Nola can generate strikeouts but has struggled with home runs, baserunners, and workload, while Mikolas pitches to contact against a Philadelphia lineup that has regained Schwarber and scored 14 runs Tuesday. Washington's elite offense should create opportunities against Nola, but its home record and unreliable bullpen make the Nationals difficult to trust as the stronger side. Philadelphia has the deeper lineup and superior late-game pitching, while both offenses are positioned to push the total beyond nine runs.
Moneyline Pick: Philadelphia Phillies (-135)
Philadelphia is the preferred moneyline side. The Phillies possess the deeper confirmed lineup and a substantial late-game pitching advantage.
Schwarber's return is important. Philadelphia scored 14 runs without its leading home-run hitter Tuesday and now adds his power back between Turner and Harper.
The Phillies should create frequent contact against Mikolas. The Washington right-hander has recorded only 43 strikeouts across 74 innings and must rely on Philadelphia hitting balls directly at defenders.
That approach becomes increasingly dangerous against Schwarber, Harper, Marsh, Bohm, Sosa, and Stott. Philadelphia can attack Mikolas for both home runs and sustained rallies.
Washington's bullpen creates additional opportunities after Mikolas exits. The Nationals allowed eight ninth-inning runs Tuesday and own one of baseball's lowest pitching whiff rates.
Nola prevents Philadelphia from becoming a comfortable favourite. He owns a 5.71 ERA, has not completed six innings during June, and now faces the highest-scoring offense in baseball.
Wood, Mead, Crews, Abrams, and García can all contribute against him. The Nationals should score enough to remain competitive and may hold an early advantage.
The Phillies are still better positioned once the game reaches the middle and late innings. Their lineup is capable of repeatedly forcing Washington's relievers to record outs through contact, while Philadelphia can turn to higher-strikeout arms with a lead.
The -135 price is playable but should not be treated as a dominant position. Philadelphia is more likely to win a game around 6-5 or 7-5 than control Washington from the opening inning.
Spread Pick: Washington Nationals +1.5 (-145)
Washington +1.5 is the preferred standard run-line position despite the Philadelphia moneyline recommendation.
The Nationals own the highest-scoring offense in baseball and should receive several opportunities against Nola. His home-run rate and inability to pitch deep create a realistic path to at least four or five Washington runs.
Wood, Abrams, García, Lile, and Ruiz give the Nationals several left-handed hitters against the Philadelphia right-hander. Mead and Crews provide additional power from the opposite side.
Washington has also covered the run line far more consistently than Philadelphia. The Nationals enter 50-29 against the spread, while the Phillies have struggled to win by multiple runs.
Philadelphia's road offense represents another reason to take the protection. The Phillies are batting barely above .210 away from home despite Tuesday's 17-hit eruption.
The greatest danger is Washington's bullpen. A one-run lead or tie can become a multi-run deficit quickly if the Nationals repeat Tuesday's inability to finish innings.
Mikolas also lacks the strikeout ability to escape trouble once Philadelphia places several runners on base. One Schwarber or Harper home run could create immediate separation.
The +1.5 protection still fits the most likely game script. A 6-5, 7-6, or 6-4 Philadelphia victory supports the Phillies moneyline while keeping Washington competitive on the run line.
⭐ Best Bet - Total Pick: Over 9.5 (-105)
Over 9.5 is the strongest game wager. The matchup combines two starters with ERAs above 5.40, powerful lineups, warm conditions, and a Washington bullpen that just allowed an eight-run inning.
Nola has surrendered close to 1.8 home runs per nine innings. He allowed two homers during his latest start and now faces Wood, Abrams, García, Crews, and several other hitters capable of producing extra-base damage.
Washington averages more than five runs per game and leads baseball in late-inning scoring. The Nationals have also produced an Over-heavy record at home.
Philadelphia can provide the other half of the total against Mikolas. The veteran has improved recently, but his 5.47 season ERA and low strikeout rate leave little room for mistakes.
The Phillies have scored six or more runs in five of their last eight games. They enter after producing 17 hits and three home runs Tuesday, and Schwarber is back in the lineup.
Washington's pitching staff has difficulty creating empty swings. Opponents frequently put the ball in play, increasing the chance that rallies continue through singles, doubles, defensive mistakes, and home runs.
The Nationals bullpen is also less reliable after Tuesday's heavy and ineffective workload. Lord and several supporting relievers were unable to record the final out before Philadelphia had completely changed the game.
Philadelphia's bullpen is stronger but not automatic. Kerkering allowed three runs Tuesday, and Nola's recent workload suggests the relief group may need to cover four innings again.
The 9.5-run number is high, but neither team needs to repeat Tuesday's offensive explosion. Scores such as 6-4, 6-5, 7-4, or 7-5 would be enough to cash the Over.
A projected final around 6-5 gives Philadelphia the narrow advantage while making Over 9.5 the strongest wager on the board.
Top Player Prop Picks
Aaron Nola Under 4.5 Strikeouts (+105) Nola has recorded 77 strikeouts across 75.2 innings, but his recent workload makes five strikeouts a more difficult target than the season rate initially suggests.
He has not pitched beyond the fifth inning during any of his four June starts. Nola has also worked past the fifth only once across his last eight appearances.
The right-hander recorded six strikeouts against the Mets during his latest start, but he required 97 pitches to complete five innings. Seven hits and two home runs repeatedly forced him into extended counts.
Washington can create similar pressure. Wood, Mead, Crews, Abrams, Young, Lile, Ruiz, García, and Nuñez give the Nationals a balanced lineup with several hitters capable of extending at-bats.
The Nationals also have multiple left-handed hitters. Nola may need to use more breaking and off-speed pitches instead of attacking the lineup exclusively with his fastball.
His strikeout ability remains the obvious risk. Nola has exceeded one strikeout per inning and has reached eight strikeouts multiple times this season.
The plus-money price compensates for that ceiling. Four or fewer strikeouts across approximately five innings is a realistic outcome if Washington continues placing runners on base and elevating his pitch count.
Brandon Marsh Over 2.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (+120) Marsh enters as Philadelphia's hottest and most consistent hitter. He is batting approximately .315 with an OPS above .850 and has supplied power throughout the series.
He homered for Philadelphia's only run Monday before producing another major performance Tuesday. Marsh tied the game with a two-run homer during the ninth-inning comeback and finished one hit short of the cycle.
The combined market provides several ways to clear the number. Marsh can reach three through hits alone, combine one hit with a run and RBI, or produce another extra-base hit with runners aboard.
Mikolas is a favourable matchup for contact. The Nationals starter has struck out only 43 hitters across 74 innings and depends heavily on opponents putting the ball in play.
Marsh should also receive RBI opportunities despite batting sixth. Turner, Schwarber, Harper, Bohm, and Sosa all hit ahead of him, giving Philadelphia multiple ways to place runners on base.
Washington's bullpen strengthens the late-game case. Marsh may receive his fourth or fifth plate appearance against a reliever from a staff carrying baseball's lowest overall miss rate.
The return of Schwarber makes the lineup deeper rather than reducing Marsh's value. More traffic ahead of him increases the likelihood that a single or extra-base hit produces an RBI.
The +120 price is preferable to laying more than -200 on a basic one-hit prop. Marsh's current form and multiple statistical paths support another productive game.
James Wood Over 1.5 Total Bases (+110 at bet365) Wood enters with 20 home runs and will lead off for Washington. His lineup position should provide four or five plate appearances in a game projected to feature substantial offense.
The matchup directly targets Nola's largest weakness. The Philadelphia starter has allowed close to 1.8 home runs per nine innings and has repeatedly been punished when pitches remain over the centre of the plate.
Wood receives the platoon advantage from the left side. His combination of plate discipline and power forces Nola to either challenge him inside the strike zone or risk placing Washington's leadoff hitter on base.
A home run is not required to cash the prop. One double, triple, or two singles would produce the necessary two total bases.
Nationals Park also gives Wood access to both the right-field seats and the large outfield gaps. Hard contact that stays inside the park can still become an extra-base hit.
Wood should receive another opportunity against Philadelphia's bullpen if Nola exits after five innings. The projected high-scoring game increases the probability that Washington turns the lineup over several times.
The plus-money price provides considerably more value than an expensive one-hit market. Wood's power, platoon advantage, and expected plate-appearance volume make Over 1.5 total bases the preferred Nationals hitter prop.
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