Washington Nationals vs. Philadelphia Phillies Picks and Prediction for Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Use Code WWWC It’s the middle game of a three-game set between a pair of NL East rivals on the diamond in the City of Brotherly Love as the Washington Nationals travel to take on the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday evening and we have you covered with our Nationals vs. Phillies prediction. Washington prevailed in the rubber game of their three-game set with the Cubs, prevailing 6-3 on the road Sunday afternoon. Philadelphia dropped the rubber game of their three-game set at home with Texas, falling by an 8-3 score Sunday. This article was originally published prior to the conclusion of the opening game of the set at Citizens Bank Park Monday night. Read more about this Nationals vs. Phillies prediction! Don’t go down on strikes! Increase your bankroll with our MLB Betting Picks!
Washington Shooting for Early Success
Washington bounced back from getting walloped Saturday by jumping in front early against the Cubs Sunday en route to a win in the rubber game of that set. The Nationals entered Monday 2-1 on the year and stood tied for second in the NL East, one game behind the Marlins for the top spot. Against Chicago Sunday, Washington rapped out 11 hits as Joey Wiemer (run, three RBI) had three while Brady House (run) and Daylen Lile (two runs) each added a pair. Wiemer (his second) and Keibert Ruiz (his first) each went deep in the win. Jake Irvin (1-0) earned the win as he threw five innings, allowing two runs on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts, before departing. Clayton Beeter tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of the year.
The Nationals haven’t officially named a starter for this contest but the expectation is that Zack Littell will make his first start of the year here. He made 32 starts last season, 22 with Tampa Bay and 10 with Cincinnati, posting a 10-8 mark with a 3.81 ERA, a 1.104 WHIP, 32 walks and 130 strikeouts over 186.2 innings of work. Littell, who signed with Washington March 10, was 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA, a 1.941 WHIP, five walks and five strikeouts over 5.2 innings in two spring training starts. He makes his seventh career appearance, second start, against the Phillies in this contest. In those outings, he is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, three walks and three strikeouts over 6.2 innings of work against them. Littell has no record with a 6.75 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, two walks and no strikeouts over 2.2 innings in two career appearances, both in relief, at Citizens Bank Park.
Phillies Trying to Get Pitching on Track
Philadelphia was drubbed in the rubber game of their three-game set with the Rangers at home Sunday for their second straight defeat. The Phillies entered Monday 1-2 on the year and sat in the basement of the NL East, two games behind the Marlins for the top spot. On Sunday against the Rangers, Philadelphia finished with just three hits in the contest with no player having more than one. The Phillies went two of eight with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base in the game. Jesus Luzardo (0-1) took the loss as he allowed six runs on six hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over six innings of work.
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Andrew Painter toes the slab for the Phillies as he makes his season and major league debut in this contest. He made 26 starts in the minors last season, two at Clearwater of the Single-A Florida State League and 26 with Triple-A Lehigh Valley of the International League. Painter was 5-8 with a 5.26 ERA, a 1.492 WHIP, 47 walks and 123 strikeouts over 118 innings of work. He made four starts in spring training, posting no record with a 2.31 ERA, a 0.771 WHIP, two walks and eight strikeouts over 11.2 innings of work. Painter, since this is his major league debut, pitches against the Nationals for the first time. He makes his first career start at Citizens Bank Park in this contest as well. In the minors, Painter is 11-10 with a 3.44 ERA, a 1.195 WHIP with 72 walks and 290 strikeouts over 227.2 innings in 52 career starts.
Nationals vs. Phillies Pick
Moneyline Pick for Nationals vs. Phillies
- Phillies (4 units)
Washington put together a solid opening series over the weekend in the Windy City but this is still a young team trying to put things in order on the fly. The Nationals’ lineup depth is questionable and they have to figure out their rotation as well. Philadelphia is a veteran team with the ability to do damage with one swing of the bat. Painter is making his major league debut in this contest but facing a group loaded with inexperienced bats puts him on a relatively level playing field. In the end, the Phillies’ bats are too much to slow down, especially at home, as they earn the victory here.
Over/Under Pick for Nationals vs. Phillies
- Over (4 units)
Washington went over the number in two of their first three games to open the season. The Nationals scored an average of six runs per game while allowing an average of 5.67 runs per contest. That gave Washington an average total of 11.67 runs per game entering Monday night. Philadelphia entered Monday’s action having seen the over post a 2-0-1 mark on the year. The Phillies have put up an average of four runs a night while allowing an average of 5.33 runs per game. That gave Philadelphia an average of 9.33 runs per game entering Monday night. With temperatures in the low 70s, wind blowing out and Littell’s penchant for surrendering the long ball (32 last season), this game ends up over the number.
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