SportsJaw
LeaderboardToday's GamesPredictionsBest BetsConsensus PicksMake Picks
Login / Sign In
Today's GamesLatest PredictionsToday’s Best BetsConsensus PicksTeam PredictionsHead-to-Head MatchupsSJ CoinsAbout SportsJawContact UsLogin / Sign In
HomeMatchupsMake PicksLeaders
SportsJaw

The social platform for sports bettors.

Explore SportsJaw

  • Today’s Picks
  • Latest Predictions
  • Best Bets
  • Leaderboard
  • Make Picks
  • Consensus Picks
  • Team Predictions
  • Head-to-Head

Picks by Sport

  • NFL Picks
  • NCAAF Picks
  • NBA Picks
  • NCAAB Picks
  • MLB Picks
  • NHL Picks

About SportsJaw

  • How It Works
  • SJ Coins
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us

© 2026 SportsJaw. For entertainment purposes only. SportsJaw does not accept or place wagers.

MLB MatchupsFri 6:45 PM ET
New York Mets logo
New York
Mets
C. Scott RHP
versus
Washington Nationals logo
Washington
Nationals
A. Alvarez LHP
MLB · NYM at WSH

Your Picks on Mets vs Nationals

Picks close 15 minutes before game time (ET)
Runline
Moneyline
Total

New York vs Washington consensus picks

NYM55%
45%WSH

New York Mets vs Washington Nationals Predictions Today: Christian Scott vs Andrew Alvarez

Game time: September 25, 2026 at 6:45 PM ET

Venue: Nationals Park — Washington, District of Columbia

Article updated Sep 25, 2:03 AM EDT

By SportsJaw Editorial Team

The Washington Nationals will beat the New York Mets, 4-3, in our September 25 forecast. Andrew Alvarez's 13 scoreless innings across his two most recent listed starts give Washington its strongest advantage, backed by a higher season scoring average. Confidence is low: New York has the better bullpen and an unconfirmed starter. The supplied prices leave the official wager as Pass.

New York Mets vs Washington Nationals prediction and best bet

Washington gets the narrow nod because Alvarez's recent pitching and the Nationals' season scoring rate offer a credible route to an early lead. He threw seven scoreless innings against the Angels on September 12, then six more at St. Louis on September 19. Washington averages 5.08 runs per game against New York's 4.29.

Best bet: Pass. Nationals moneyline +113 is tempting, but the Mets' stronger relief numbers make protecting that projected lead a concern. New York's unresolved starting assignment also leaves a substantial part of the matchup unsettled. Washington is the forecast winner; neither the run line nor the total offers a strong enough edge to justify an official wager.

Odds, game time and how to watch

Game: New York Mets at Washington Nationals, 2026 MLB season. Friday, September 25, at 6:45 p.m. EDT.

Venue: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C. Broadcast: WPIX and Nationals.TV.

Records: Mets 73-86; Nationals 75-84. Probable pitchers: Washington left-hander Andrew Alvarez; New York's starter remains unconfirmed on both clubs' official pages.

SportsJaw moneylines: Mets -135; Nationals +113.

SportsJaw run lines: Mets -1.5 (+130); Nationals +1.5 (-150).

SportsJaw total: Over 8.5 (+105); Under 8.5 (-125).

New York Mets outlook

New York won 6-3 at Texas on September 22 and 7-2 on September 23 before losing 3-1 on September 24. Those results show why the latest loss should not define the offense. The Mets scored 13 runs across the preceding two games, although their season average of 4.29 runs trails Washington's. They allow 4.51 runs per game.

Christian Scott's numbers offer context only if he receives the assignment. Both official probable-pitcher pages leave New York's starter unconfirmed. Scott's 2026 line on Covers lists 23 starts, 110 innings, 93 hits, 48 runs, 47 earned runs, 12 home runs, 47 walks and 134 strikeouts, with a 3.85 ERA and 1.27 WHIP.

In his most recent listed start, September 19 against Philadelphia, Scott worked 4 2/3 innings and allowed six hits and three runs, all earned, with one walk and seven strikeouts. His season performance would give New York a credible starting option, but it cannot be treated as tonight's confirmed pitching outlook.

The bullpen supplies the firmer advantage: Mets relievers have a 3.75 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. Those marks make New York dangerous in a close finish. The Mets also won all three games of the August 14-16 meeting at Citi Field.

Washington Nationals outlook

Washington's 5.08 runs per game give it the stronger overall scoring profile, but its 5.02 runs allowed illustrate the other side of the forecast. The Nationals' offensive advantage leaves room for optimism without making them a comfortable selection. Their season scoring rate also should not be mistaken for a split against whichever pitcher New York ultimately starts.

Alvarez is Washington's probable starter, with a 2-6 record, 3.17 ERA and 107 strikeouts on the official team pages. His two most recent listed starts show the strongest part of his case. On September 19 at St. Louis, he worked six innings, allowing five hits, no runs, no home runs and one walk while striking out eight.

On September 12 against the Angels, Alvarez threw seven scoreless innings, allowing one hit, no home runs and four walks with eight strikeouts. His September 6 outing against the Dodgers was less dominant: 4 1/3 innings, four hits, three runs, all earned, no home runs, two walks and five strikeouts.

The weakness comes behind him. Washington relievers have a 5.01 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. Another lengthy Alvarez outing would reduce exposure to that bullpen, but his recent scoreless work is a reason for a narrow forecast, not an expectation of another shutout.

Key matchup factors

The central question is whether Washington can build enough of a lead before its bullpen becomes decisive. Alvarez's recent outings favor the Nationals early; the relief comparison gives the Mets a plausible route back. Without a confirmed New York starter, Washington's first several innings at the plate are harder to project.

SportsJaw's September 25 consensus update at 05:50 UTC shows the blended moneyline favoring Mets -135 at 63%. The community and qualified handicappers each favor Nationals +113 at 75%. Those are separate measures of selection preference, not win probabilities. The disagreement fits a close matchup, but popularity alone gives neither side a betting edge.

New York Mets vs Washington Nationals spread prediction

Spread recommendation: Pass on Nationals +1.5 (-150) and Mets -1.5 (+130). Washington's extra run and a half fits the close-game forecast, but the -150 price requires more conviction in a competitive finish than this matchup warrants. New York's uncertain starting assignment widens the range of plausible outcomes.

Mets -1.5 (+130) is also a pass. Their bullpen advantage matters, yet a late pitching edge does not automatically translate into a victory by two or more runs. Alvarez's recent performance is a substantial obstacle to that margin.

New York Mets vs Washington Nationals total prediction

Total recommendation: Pass on Over 8.5 (+105) and Under 8.5 (-125). The seven-run projection falls below the line, with Alvarez's recent effectiveness and New York's relief numbers supporting a restrained scoring forecast. That projected score alone is not enough to buy the Under.

Washington's higher scoring average, weaker bullpen and New York's unresolved starter create meaningful upside risk for runs. SportsJaw's blended total consensus favors Over 8.5 (+105) at 55%, but that selection share is not a scoring model. Neither direction earns a wager at these prices.

New York Mets vs Washington Nationals projected score

Game forecast: Nationals 4, Mets 3. Alvarez's two most recent listed starts and Washington's stronger season scoring average give the Nationals a slight advantage. The projection assumes they create enough offense to survive a close finish, rather than relying on Alvarez to repeat 13 scoreless innings.

The strongest counterargument is New York's superior bullpen, which could reverse a narrow Washington lead. The Mets' unconfirmed starter adds uncertainty rather than an automatic advantage for either team. Confidence is low. Washington remains the projected winner, but Nationals +113 is not compelling enough for an official moneyline bet. Both run lines and the 8.5 total are passes. Official wager: Pass.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

NYM3

WSH4

Projected winner Washington NationalsConfidenceSlight Lean — Washington Nationals
Pick on the Spread

Slight Lean — Washington Nationals +1.5

Editorial pick at publication: Pass on Washington Nationals +1.5 (-150) and New York Mets -1.5 (+130)

Pick on the Total

Slight Lean — Under 8.5

Editorial pick at publication: Pass on Over 8.5 (+105) and Under 8.5 (-125)

Sources

  • CoversMets vs Nationals Game Overview, Stats, Injuries, Records - MLB Game on September 25, 2026
  • Washington Nationals / MLB.comNationals Probable Pitchers
  • New York Mets / MLB.comMets Probable Pitchers | New York Mets

SportsJaw Mets vs Nationals game preview analysis and predictions incorporate current odds, injury reports, team statistics and market data. Information is updated regularly, but lines and player availability can change. Please confirm current information before wagering. View history of past Mets vs Nationals matchups or learn how our predictions work.

Keep browsing

More MLB matchups

Compare predictions, consensus picks and recorded odds for other MLB games on this slate.

View all MLB games
MLBFri 4:05 PM
BAL+115
NYY-138
O/U6.5
Matchup Coming Soon
MLBFri 6:00 PM
CHC-116
BOS-102
O/U6.5
Matchup Coming Soon
MLBFri 6:40 PM
TB+146
PHI-163
O/U6.5
MLBFri 6:40 PM
PIT-109
DET-110
O/U8
MLBFri 7:07 PM
CIN+116
TOR-136
O/U7.5
MLBFri 7:10 PM
ATL-125
MIA+105
O/U8.5
Matchup Coming Soon
MLBFri 7:40 PM
CLE-140
KC+120
O/U7.5
MLBFri 7:40 PM
STL+150
MIL-175
O/U8
Matchup Coming Soon
MLBFri 7:40 PM
COL+190
CHW-225
O/U8
Matchup Coming Soon
MLBFri 8:10 PM
TEX-110
MIN-110
O/U7.5
Matchup Coming Soon
MLBFri 9:40 PM
ARI+114
SD-133
O/U7.5
MLBFri 9:40 PM
HOU-172
OAK+144
O/U8.5
Matchup Coming Soon
MLBFri 10:10 PM
LAA+112
SEA-132
O/U7
Matchup Coming Soon
MLBFri 10:15 PM
LA-375
SF+300
O/U7.5
Matchup Coming Soon