Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals Betting Pick & Prediction for Game on 7/8

MLB game preview

The Houston Astros will travel to Washington, DC, to take on the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. The game is set for Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 6:45 PM. Fans can catch the game on SCHN.

The Astros hold a record of 46-48, sitting third in the AL West. Spencer Arrighetti is expected to start for Houston. The Nationals are fourth in the NL East with a 47-46 record. Foster Griffin will be on the mound for Washington. The weather forecast indicates overcast clouds with calm wind conditions.

Houston Astros Team Preview

The Houston Astros have shown mixed results in their recent games. They had a narrow win against the Washington Nationals on July 7th, securing a 6-3 victory. Key players like Jose Altuve contributed with a home run, while Tatsuya Imai pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up 2 earned runs.

On July 6th, the Astros fell short in a high-scoring game, losing 12-11 to the Nationals. The Astros managed 12 hits with home runs from Brice Matthews, Yainer Diaz, and Jose Altuve. Despite the offensive power, the pitching struggled, allowing 13 hits and 3 home runs.

Throughout the 2026 season, the Astros have been strong in hitting, ranking 3rd in home runs with 126. Yordan Alvarez has been a standout with a .313 average and 29 home runs. The team’s pitching has been less consistent, with an ERA of 4.76, placing them 26th in the league.

Astros vs Nationals Game Day Info

  • Sport: MLB
  • Teams: Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals
  • Venue: Nationals Park in Washington, DC
  • Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Astros Moneyline +116, Nationals Moneyline -139

Washington Nationals Team Preview

The Washington Nationals have been active at the plate. They have a team batting average of .250, which ranks 8th in the league. Their slugging percentage is .434, placing them 2nd, and they have hit 130 home runs, also ranked 2nd.

Their pitching has faced challenges this season. The team’s ERA is 4.81, which is 27th in the league. They have given up 130 home runs, placing them 22nd in that category.

Foster Griffin will start for the Nationals in the next game. This season, he holds a 9-2 record with a 2.87 ERA. Griffin has struck out 100 batters, contributing to his strong performance on the mound.

BTB Betting Pick

The Nationals are favored with a moneyline of -139, while the Astros have a moneyline of +116. The Nationals have a better team batting average and slugging percentage, which might give them an edge. Our pick is the Nationals to win the game with a projected score of Nationals 6, Astros 4.

The total for the game is set at 9.0, with the over at -116 and the under at -105. Both teams have high slugging percentages and have given up many home runs this season. Therefore, we recommend taking the over, with a projected total of 10 runs in the game.