Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Picks and Prediction for Saturday May 23 2026
Use Code WWWC Washington (25-26) will look to win its second straight against the NL's hottest team when it visits Truist Park on Saturday afternoon to face Atlanta (35-16) in Game 2 of their three-game set at 4:10 PM ET. Read on to find out which team picks up the win in this Nationals vs. Braves prediction. Don't go down on strikes! Get our top MLB Predictions and increase your bankroll!
Jake Irvin, 1-4, 5.59 ERA, will get the start for the Nationals. The Braves will counter with Grant Holmes, 2-1, 3.62 ERA.
Nationals Looking To Win Back-To-Back Against The Best Team In Baseball
The Nationals snapped the Atlanta Braves' six-game winning streak with an 11-4 victory on Tuesday night, with James Wood homering and Luis García Jr. collecting four hits. Washington enters Saturday riding a wave of offensive momentum and looking to take the series lead against the best team in the NL.
The Nationals have scored the second most runs in all of baseball and rank in the top 10 of most offensive categories. CJ Abrams is showing a bit more patience at the plate, posting a .391 OBP and a .922 OPS, while James Wood still strikes out a ton but has not let it stop him from posting a .930 OPS.
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Abrams ranks second in baseball with 36 RBI in 41 games, while Wood's 12 home runs are among the most in baseball. Nasim Nunez also leads the league with 17 stolen bases.
Irvin owns a 5.59 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP across 46.2 innings through 10 starts this season and has pitched more than five innings just once all year. He hasn't secured a win since his season debut back on March 29 and is scheduled for another challenging matchup on the road against Atlanta. Irvin does have some history against the Braves, going 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA in his career against them, but that was during a much better stretch of his career than what he has shown in 2026.
Braves Looking To Right The Ship At Home
The Atlanta Braves have returned to being one of the best offenses in baseball in 2026, ranking first in runs, batting average, wOBA, and wRC+, and second in home runs. After their six-game win streak was snapped by Washington Tuesday, the Braves bounced back to take the series and are eager to reassert their dominance at home this weekend.
The Braves' starting rotation also ranks fifth in the league in batting average against, eighth in WHIP, and eighth in hard-hit percentage despite facing seven of the top 15 offenses in the league. Ronald Acuña Jr. returned from a brief injury scare to double, walk twice, and score three times in the Braves' 8-4 win over the Marlins this week.
The Braves are 16-8 in 24 home games this season and have won seven of their last 10 games. Matt Olson and Austin Riley anchor a middle of the order that has been one of the most productive in baseball, while Michael Harris II has been heating up at the plate with multi-homer games in recent outings.
Holmes will carry a 3.62 ERA and 25:14 K:BB across 32.1 innings into Saturday's start. He has notched three quality starts this season but has allowed multiple runs in five of his six outings. In his most recent start against Philadelphia, Holmes surrendered home runs to Trea Turner and Bryce Harper but was otherwise able to limit the damage. His slider remains his best pitch and should be a weapon against a Washington lineup that has several swing-and-miss tendencies at the top of the order.
Nationals vs. Braves Picks
Money Line Pick for Nationals vs. Braves
- Atlanta Braves ML (4 Units)
The Braves get the clear edge here because they are the best team in the National League, playing at home against a pitcher who has been among the worst starters in baseball this season. Irvin has pitched more than five innings just once all year and hasn't won a game since Opening Day, giving Atlanta a favorable matchup at the top of a lineup that punishes struggling starters. Atlanta ranks first in baseball in runs, batting average, wOBA, and wRC+, and this offense has feasted on pitchers with Irvin's profile — poor command, limited length, and a tendency to fall behind in counts. Even with the Nationals' surprising offensive firepower, the Braves are 16-8 at Truist Park this season and have all the advantages in this matchup. Take Atlanta on the money line.
Over/Under Pick for Nationals vs. Braves
- Over 9 (4 Units)
The Nationals rank 29th in ERA, 28th in WHIP, and have allowed the most home runs in baseball this season at 52, giving Atlanta's power-laden lineup a prime opportunity to score early and often. Washington's offense has also been legitimate, ranking second in baseball in runs scored, and both Lile and Garcia Jr. are coming off a red-hot stretch at the plate. Irvin has struggled to record outs efficiently all season, which means Atlanta will have extended at-bats and traffic on the bases. Holmes has allowed multiple runs in five of his six outings this season, giving Washington's bats every reason to contribute as well. With two offenses ranked in the top 15 in the majors and a pair of starters who both give up runs, expect this one to go well over the total. Take the Over
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