Washington Nationals vs Cincinnati Reds Betting Pick & Prediction for 5/14

MLB game preview

The Washington Nationals travel to face the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. This MLB regular season game takes place on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 12:40 PM. The Nationals come in with a 21-22 record and sit second in the NL East.

The Reds have a 22-21 record and hold the fifth spot in the NL Central. Both teams have strong starting pitchers lined up. Foster Griffin takes the mound for the Nationals, while Chase Burns starts for the Reds. The weather forecast calls for a cool day with overcast clouds and a light breeze.

Washington Nationals Team Preview

The Washington Nationals are on a roll, winning three of their last five games. Their offense has been strong, especially in the series against the Cincinnati Reds. They managed 10 hits and 2 home runs in their recent 8-7 win.

Daylen Lile has been a standout player for the Nationals. In the last two games against the Reds, he hit three home runs and drove in seven runs. His performance has been key to the team’s recent success.

Foster Griffin will be the starting pitcher for the Nationals in the upcoming game. He has a 4-1 record this season with a 2.12 ERA. Griffin will look to continue his strong pitching against the Reds.

Nationals vs Reds Game Day Info

  • Sport: MLB
  • Teams: Washington Nationals vs. Cincinnati Reds
  • Venue: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH
  • Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Nationals Moneyline +135, Reds Moneyline -160

Cincinnati Reds Team Preview

The Cincinnati Reds have shown a mixed performance in recent games. They faced a tough loss against the Washington Nationals on May 13, losing 8-7. Tyler Stephenson contributed with a home run and four RBIs, while Spencer Steer added two hits and scored twice.

In the game on May 12 against the Nationals, the Reds lost 10-4. Despite the loss, JJ Bleday and Sal Stewart both had multiple hits. The pitching struggled, giving up six home runs to the Nationals.

The Reds had a strong performance on May 10 against the Houston Astros, winning 5-0. Andrew Abbott pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only three hits. Elly De La Cruz led the offense with three hits and two runs scored.

BTB Betting Pick

The Reds are favored to win with a moneyline of -160. The Nationals have a moneyline of +135. The Reds have a slightly better team ERA at 4.72 compared to the Nationals’ 4.79. Given the Reds’ home advantage and stronger pitching, the pick is for the Reds to win.

The total for the game is set at 8.0 runs. Both teams have ERAs near the bottom of the league, with the Reds ranked 27th and the Nationals 29th. With these pitching stats, expect a higher-scoring game. The pick is to take the over on 8.0 runs.