The New York Mets will look to get deep into the Washington Nationals bullpen as these teams square off at Citi Field on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams should find offense, but I'm backing New York to get the better of the Washington pitching staff in my Nationals vs. Mets predictions.
Read on to get my free MLB picks for Saturday, Aug. 15.
Who will win Nationals vs Mets today: Mets moneyline (-137)
Brad Lord (5-2, 3.79 ERA) serves more as an opener when he starts, never having made it through the third inning this year. That puts the game in the hands of the struggling Washington Nationals bullpen, which has a 4.91 ERA this season.
Sean Manaea (4-5, 4.13 ERA) has gone 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA over his last four starts for the New York Mets. Manaea has gotten batters to chase 31.8% of the time this season, which will play well against a Nationals lineup with a 30.8% chase rate.
I'm taking the Mets to win at -140 or better.
COVERS INTEL: The Nationals have a weak 17.4% air pull rate against fastballs and sweepers from lefthanded pitchers, two pitches that make up 69% of Manaea's arsenal.
Nationals vs Mets Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-116)
The Nationals bullpen is going to need to throw six or seven innings this afternoon, and this Mets lineup has feasted on weak pitching even while struggling overall.
New York has the third best hard-hit rate in the majors (41.4%), and will find spots to string hits together today.
On the other side, Washington will make solid contact against the soft-tossing Manaea, who throws his average fastball at just 90.8 mph. The Nats average an MLB-best 5.35 runs per game and won't be completely shut down by New York.
I love the Over at 8.5 or less.
Nationals vs Mets home run prediction: Bo Bichette (+880)
Bo Bichette has hit better for the Mets as the season has worn on, but his lack of power remains a massive concern for New York. However, Bichette is hitting .313 with a .500 slugging percentage in 12 games in August, including hitting a couple of homers.
Bichette is squaring up balls at a 27.2% rate, has positive launch angle metrics, and yet has gone through extended power outages. Still, his underlying metrics suggest there's still pop in the bat, which has shown in his 12 homers this season.
I'm taking Bichette to homer today at +800 or better.
- ML/RL bets: 13-23, -10.84 units
- Over/Under bets: 13-21, -8.96 units
Nationals vs Mets weather
Warm temperatures and light winds mean the weather should have minimal impact on today's matchup.
Nationals vs Mets odds
- Moneyline: Nationals +127 | Mets -133
- Run line: Nationals +1.5 (-170) | Mets -1.5 (+156)
- Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-113) | Under 7.5 (+108)
Nationals vs Mets trend
The Over is 5-0-1 in the Mets' last six games vs. a right-handed starter. Find more MLB betting trends for Nationals vs. Mets.
How to watch Nationals vs Mets and game info
| Location | Citi Field, Queens, NY |
| Date | Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026 |
| First pitch | 4:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | FS1 |
| Nationals starting pitcher | Brad Lord (5-2, 3.79 ERA) |
| Mets starting pitcher | Sean Manaea (4-5, 4.13 ERA) |
Nationals vs Mets latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
