The Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres meet Monday in MLB action from Petco Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Washington Nationals vs. San Diego Padres prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Washington Nationals will send out Jake Irvin for the start here and Irvin is 2-8 with a 5.57 ERA and 87 strikeouts this season. Nick Pivetta will start for San Diego and is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts this season.
Washington Nationals Recap
The Washington Nationals come into this game looking to rebound from a 7-5 loss at the hands of the Dodgers last time out to sit at 67-78 this season. After this series, the Nationals will head home for a series against the Los Angeles Angels.
Nationals Lose 4 Straight
James Wood has 121 hits with 28 doubles, 30 home runs and 74 RBIs while CJ Abrams has 137 hits with 26 doubles, 30 home runs and 95 RBIs. Daylen Lile has 139 hits with 27 doubles, 20 home runs and 82 RBIs. Jacob Young has 96 hits with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs while Nasim Nunez has 86 hits with 3 triples and 35 RBIs.
San Diego Padres Recap
The San Diego Padres come into this game looking to add on to their 4-3 win over New York last time out to sit at 75-68 this season. After this series, the Padres will take on the Giants in a series on the road.
Padres Alternate Wins & Losses In 4 Straight
Jackson Merrill has 128 hits with 22 doubles, 22 home runs and 70 RBIs while Gavin Sheets has 75 hits with 15 doubles, 16 home runs and 46 RBIs as well on the year. Fernando Tatis Jr. has 155 hits with 29 doubles, 20 home runs and 71 RBIs and Xander Bogaerts has 101 hits with 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 52 RBIs. Manny Machado also has 114 hits with 21 doubles, 26 home runs and 77 RBIs as well on the year.
Washington Nationals @ San Diego Padres Betting Trends: September 7, 2026
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Nick Pivetta Record this season: 1-2 ERA: 4.50
- Home Record: 1-1
- Last 5 against Nationals: 2-0
Why the San Diego Padres will win
- The Nationals have lost each of their last 10 road games against NL opponents.
- The Padres have won five of their last six home games against the Nationals.
- The Padres have covered the run line in 10 of their last 11 games against NL East opponents.
- The Nationals have failed to cover the run line in 10 of their last 12 road games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Nationals have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last five road day games.
- The Nationals have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last eight road games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Jake Irvin Record this season: 2-8 ERA: 5.57
- Road Record: 2-4
- Last 5 against Padres: 0-0
Why the Washington Nationals will win
- The Padres have lost each of their last four games as favorites against NL opponents following a win.
- The underdogs have won four of the Padres’ last five games.
- The Padres have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven games as favorites against NL opponents following a win.
- The Nationals have covered the run line in each of their last six day games against NL West opponents following a loss.
- The Padres have trailed after 3 innings in four of their last five day games against NL East opponents that held a losing record.
- The Nationals have led after 5 innings in seven of their last eight day games against NL West opponents.
Total Runs Facts
- Nine of the Padres’ last 10 games against NL opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Four of the Nationals’ last five games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in each of the Padres’ last seven home games against NL opponents.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in eight of the Nationals’ last nine games.
San Diego Padres Player Prop Facts
- Ty France has recorded at least one hit in each of the Padres’ last seven games against NL East opponents.
- Nick Pivetta has recorded a win in each of his four previous appearances with the Padres as favorites against NL East opponents.
- Nick Pivetta has recorded eight or more strikeouts in three of his last four appearances with the Padres as home favorites.
- Manny Machado has hit a home run in each of the Padres’ last two games.
Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts
- Jake Irvin has recorded six or more strikeouts in four of his five previous appearances in day games against NL West teams that held a winning record.
- CJ Abrams has hit at least one home run in each of the Nationals’ last three day games against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
- James Wood has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 Monday appearances.
- Jake Irvin has recorded a win in four of his last five appearances with the Nationals as road underdogs against NL West opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Padres rank 27th in the league for hits this season (1111).
- The Padres rank T4th in the league for steals this season (140).
- The Nationals rank 1st in the league for steals this season (156).
- The Nationals rank 2nd in the league for runs scored this season (748).
Washington Nationals vs. San Diego Padres Prediction
I’m on the Padres in this one. Hard to know what we’ll see from Pivetta in his return, but Jake Irvin’s struggled on the road far more often than not this season, and Even if Irvin were to somehow have a quality start, the Padres’ bullpen gives this team a significant advantage and I think the Padres draw first blood here. Give me San Diego.