Washington Nationals vs Detroit Tigers Predictions: Jackson Kent vs Drew Anderson

Matchup overview

The pitching comparison favors Detroit when Washington visits Comerica Park on September 22, 2026. Drew Anderson brings better season and recent ERA figures than Jackson Kent, and Detroit also has the stronger overall staff numbers. Those advantages provide a reasonable explanation for the Tigers’ favorite status.

They do not establish that Detroit is worth a moneyline bet at -152. The teams are separated by just one win in the standings, and the offensive and relief information leaves important questions unanswered. This MLB matchup offers a clearer pitching preference than a betting opportunity.

At a glance

Game: Washington Nationals at Detroit Tigers, Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 6:40 p.m. EDT.

Venue: Comerica Park.

Broadcast: Nationals.TV and Detroit SportsNet.

Records: Washington 73-84, including 36-43 away; Detroit 74-83, including 40-36 at home. Detroit leads the 2026 season series 1-0.

Probable starters: Washington left-hander Jackson Kent; Detroit right-hander Drew Anderson. Assignments remain subject to change.

SportsJaw moneyline: Washington +136; Detroit -152. Run line: Washington +1.5 (-163); Detroit -1.5 (+135). Total: over 8 (-120); under 8 (+100).

Washington Nationals outlook

Washington’s pitching creates the most visible concern. The Nationals have a 4.71 team ERA and 1.38 WHIP, with opponents batting .254 and reaching base at a .332 rate. Their staff averages 3.6 walks allowed per game. Those figures describe a season-long challenge in preventing baserunners, although they cannot identify which relievers will be available for this game.

Kent is listed at 1-4 with a 6.40 ERA and 27 strikeouts. Across seven starts and 32⅓ innings, he has allowed 34 hits, 23 earned runs and 23 walks, with a 1.76 WHIP. The walks are an obvious concern: he has nearly as many walks as strikeouts. His two home runs allowed offer a more favorable part of the profile, but avoiding homers has not translated into a low ERA.

His last five starts carry a 5.47 ERA. On September 15 against Philadelphia, Kent allowed three earned runs over five innings, with four hits, three walks and four strikeouts. His September 9 appearance at San Diego was shorter and more damaging: eight hits and five earned runs in three innings, with one walk and two strikeouts.

Washington is 2-5 in Kent’s starts, and he has not previously faced Detroit. There is no verified Washington offensive split against right-handed pitching to establish how its hitters compare with Anderson. That leaves command as the central issue in Kent’s outlook, without enough offensive detail to judge whether the Nationals can compensate for another difficult start.

Detroit Tigers outlook

Detroit’s pitching advantage extends beyond its probable starter. The Tigers have a 3.65 team ERA and 1.22 WHIP, while opponents have hit .232 with a .305 on-base percentage. Their staff allows 1.0 home runs and 3.1 walks per game, compared with Washington’s 1.3 and 3.6. That is a broader foundation for favoring Detroit’s run prevention than Anderson’s recent results alone.

Anderson is listed at 5-6 with a 3.62 ERA. Over 102 innings, he has allowed 89 hits, 41 earned runs and 14 home runs. His 109 strikeouts against 42 walks and 1.28 WHIP compare favorably with Kent’s numbers, and his workload provides a larger season sample.

Anderson’s last five starts have produced a 2.45 ERA and an average of five innings. At Toronto on September 15, he delivered five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out four. Against Minnesota on September 8, he allowed three earned runs in five and one-third innings. His September 2 start against Minnesota brought one earned run over five and two-thirds innings, with four hits, two walks and five strikeouts.

There are limits to that case. Detroit is 4-6 in Anderson’s starts, and he has not previously faced Washington. Eduardo Valencia supplied a recent offensive bright spot, going 3-for-4 in Sunday’s 8-1 loss to the White Sox and batting .406 across nine September games. That small sample cannot establish the lineup’s overall strength. Without a verified Detroit offensive split against left-handers, Kent’s struggles alone do not support projecting a large Tigers run total.

Key matchup factors

The injury lists complicate any assessment of the supporting personnel. Detroit lists Kyle Finnegan on the 15-day injured list with left-groin inflammation, Kerry Carpenter on the 10-day list with a heel injury, Matt Vierling on the 60-day list with a left adductor strain and Jack Flaherty on the 15-day list with right-flexor inflammation.

Washington lists Orlando Ribalta on the 15-day injured list with right forearm inflammation, Matt Waldron on the 60-day list with chest inflammation and Connelly Early on the 60-day list with left-elbow inflammation. These absences do not establish the workload or readiness of the pitchers who remain available.

Confirmed batting orders, recent bullpen usage and a verified weather forecast are unavailable. That prevents a firm assessment of late-inning support or scoring conditions. The listed odds also provide no basis for claims about line movement or betting sentiment. Favorite status describes the price; it does not independently demonstrate value.

Prediction

Pass. Detroit has the stronger pitching case, with Anderson’s season performance and recent starts supported by better team run-prevention figures. The strongest argument against passing is straightforward: those advantages span more than one outing and give the Tigers a credible foundation for winning.

The unresolved issue is whether that advantage is large enough for Detroit moneyline -152. Neither the offensive matchup nor the available relief is clear enough to answer confidently. Washington moneyline +136 offers a larger return, but the information does not establish a compensating Nationals advantage. Their underdog status alone is not a reason to back them.

The same restraint applies to Detroit -1.5 (+135), Washington +1.5 (-163), over 8 (-120) and under 8 (+100). Choosing among those wagers requires a firmer view of scoring and the likely margin than is available. No winner or score is projected. The pitching preference remains Detroit, but it does not become a betting recommendation at the supplied prices.