Pirates vs Nationals Prediction 4/14/26 MLB Picks Today

In this article we will formulate a Pirates vs Nationals prediction for this MLB game on Tuesday, April 14th at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup. 

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 10-6 this year after they won game one in this series by a score of 16-5 on Monday night. Pittsburgh trailed 1-0 in the first inning, but they scored the next 15 runs to pull away with the win. The Pirates recorded 16 hits in the game and they were led by Lowe, who went 3-5 with one home run and five RBIs. Skenes allowed one hit and one earned run over 6.0 innings for the win, while Urquidy allowed four earned runs in relief. Prior to this series, Pittsburgh won two out of three against the Cubs, but lost two out of three against the Padres before that. 

This season, Pittsburgh has a 3.34 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP and a .223 opponent batting average, while they have scored 82 runs with a .250 batting average and a .342 on base percentage. Oneil Cruz has led the Pirates with five home runs and 16 RBIs, while Brandon Lowe has added six home runs and 14 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Mitch Keller, who is 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP over 18.0 innings pitched this year. 

Washington Nationals Betting Preview

The Washington Nationals are 7-9 this season after they lost game one in this series in blowout fashion on Monday night. Washington never had a chance in this ugly loss, but they did score four runs in the seventh inning to make it look a little better. The Nationals recorded eight hits and they committed one error in the game, while they were led by Nunez and Young, who both had two RBIs. Cavalli allowed three hits and four earned runs over 1.1 innings for the loss, while Rutledge allowed seven earned runs in relief. Prior to this series, Washington won all three against the Brewers, but lost two out of three against the Cardinals before that. 

This season, Washington has a 6.21 ERA with a 1.61 WHIP and a .263 opponent batting average, while they have scored 94 runs with a .270 batting average and a .340 on base percentage. CJ Abrams has led the Nationals with five home runs and 17 RBIs, while James Wood has added five home runs and 14 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Washington is Miles Mikolas, who is 0-3 with a 12.41 ERA and a 2.35 WHIP over 12.1 innings pitched this season. 

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win

• The Pirates have won 10 of their last 11 home games against NL East opponents.
• The Nationals have lost seven of their last eight night games following a road loss.
• The Pirates have covered the run line in each of their last five home games against NL East opponents.
• The Pirates have led after 3 innings in each of their last five home games against NL East opponents.
• The Pirates have led after 5 innings in seven of their last eight night games against the Nationals.

Why the Washington Nationals will win

• The Nationals have won seven of their last eight games as underdogs against NL Central opponents following a loss.
• The Pirates have lost four of their last five games as favorites against the Nationals following a win.
• The Nationals have covered the run line in each of their last seven road games following a loss.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five games against the Nationals following a win.
• The Pirates have lost the first inning in three of their last four games against NL East opponents that held a losing record.
• The Nationals have led after 5 innings in seven of their last eight Tuesday games against the Pirates.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Pirates’ last five games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Six of the Nationals’ last seven night games against NL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in six of the Nationals’ last seven games at PNC Park.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in six of the last seven night games between the Nationals and Pirates at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Mitch Keller has recorded five or more strikeouts in 12 of his last 16 home appearances against NL opponents that held a losing record.
• Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in four of his last five appearances against the Nationals.
• Oneil Cruz has recorded at least one hit in each of the Pirates’ last 12 games.

Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts

• Miles Mikolas has recorded four or more strikeouts in each of his last six road appearances against NL Central opponents.
• CJ Abrams has hit a home run in each of his last two road appearances against the Pirates.
• CJ Abrams has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 15 road appearances against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.

Pirates vs Nationals Prediction 

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup after a dominating win on Monday night and they have won three of their last four games. The Pirates are 5-2 at home this year, while the Nationals are 6-4 on the road. Washington has also won three of their last four games and they have scored at least five runs in three of those four. The Nationals continue to have very poor pitching numbers and Mikolas has been awful. Take the Pirates to win by at least two runs here.