MLB matchup analysis

Nationals vs Phillies Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park · 6:40 PM ET

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Pass

LyDia decision: Pass on Nationals vs Phillies

Lab Rating
3.8/10
Model lean
Phillies 54.6%
Market probability
73.9%
Model edge
-19.2%
Best moneyline
-330
Sportsbooks checked
2
LyDia model
54.6%
Market
73.9%

The case for Philadelphia Phillies

Late-inning bullpen advantage
Washington Nationals relievers have a 5.32 ERA over the last 7 days; Philadelphia Phillies relievers have a 3.45. If this is still close after six innings, that gap favors Philadelphia Phillies.

The case for Washington Nationals

Starting pitcher edge: Washington Nationals
LyDia gives Jake Irvin a 12-point edge over Andrew Painter, driven mainly by WHIP (1.32 vs 1.61) and K/9 (9.4 vs 7.5).

Why it is not official

Below the 61.0% official gate
Win probability is 54.6%. LyDia does not make a game official below 61.0%, no matter how good the price is. This is a value spot, not a high-confidence winner.
Setup quality below the bar
Lab Rating is 3.8/10, under the 8.0/10 required for an official pick.
Not enough market edge
The model and the market are too close for the price to matter.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 5.98/35
LyDia leans toward Philadelphia Phillies, but not strongly enough to earn full conviction credit.
Pitching plan: 6/20
No meaningful starting-pitcher edge favors Philadelphia Phillies in this matchup.
The verdict LyDia passes. Market is higher than LyDia's model probability.
Read the full model output

Market is higher than LyDia's model probability.

Game information

MatchupWashington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies
DateWednesday, August 5, 2026
First pitch6:40 PM ET
VenueCitizens Bank Park
Starting pitchersJake Irvin vs Andrew Painter
WeatherGame-time forecast: 82°F, 22% precipitation chance, 5 mph wind from S.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Jake IrvinNationals · RHP
5.56ERA
1.32WHIP
9.4K/9
14.1%K-BB%
vs
Andrew PainterPhillies · RHP
6.72ERA
1.61WHIP
7.5K/9
9.9%K-BB%
MetricNationalsPhillies
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings4⅔4⅔
ThrowsRR
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)5139
BB/9 (lower is better)3.83.4
HR/9 (lower is better)1.41.9
Ground-ball rate41.7%37.0%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Jake Irvin a 12-point edge over Andrew Painter, driven mainly by WHIP (1.32 vs 1.61) and K/9 (9.4 vs 7.5).

How to read this: the scorecards show ERA, WHIP, K/9, and K-BB%. The table adds complementary traits without repeating them. Highlighted cells mark a gap big enough to matter. HR/9 is home runs allowed per nine innings. Ground-ball rate is neither good nor bad on its own: high ground-ball pitchers trade strikeouts for double plays and fewer home runs.

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

Jake Irvin strikeouts
4.4 LyDia projected Ks
Qualifying projection: OVER 3.5K · +0.9K difference
Market 3.5K · O -122 / U +105 · 6 books
Andrew Painter strikeouts
3.3 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · -0.2K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 3.5K · O -160 / U +128 · 6 books

Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.

Nationals are 2-8 in their last 10 and averaging 4.1 runs per game over the last 15 days; Phillies are 5-5 in their last 10 and averaging 4.5 runs per game over the last 15 days. Season run differential separates them by almost nothing (+0.07 against +0.04).

MetricNationalsPhillies
Last 102-85-5
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)3-7 on the road5-5 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.7590.700
Runs per game, last 15 days4.14.5
K% last 15 days (lower is better)20.5%21.6%

Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.

30-day offense

Full offense tool →
Last 30 daysNationalsPhillies
OPS0.814 (+0.049 vs szn)0.701
Runs per game5.21 (-0.096 vs szn)4.13 (-0.270 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.354 (+0.019 vs szn)0.309
K% (lower is better)20.7% (-0.7% vs szn)23.5%

Over the last 30 days the Nationals have been the better offense, 0.354 wOBA to 0.309. They are running hot against their own season line (+0.019 wOBA).

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricNationalsPhillies
Record55-6061-53
Run differential / game (team quality)+0.07+0.04
Runs scored / game (offense, season)5.304.39
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)5.234.36
Season OPS0.7650.706
K% season (lower is better)21.4%23.5%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7600.712

Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.

Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Nationals and Phillies are highlighted.

Nationals
Combined risk
6.8 Tired
Fatigue
6.2 Tired
Efficiency
3.9 Below average
Phillies
Combined risk
5.0 Normal
Fatigue
5.3 Normal
Efficiency
5.7 Effective

Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.

MetricNationalsPhillies
Fatigue6.2/10, Tired5.3/10, Normal
Efficiency3.9/10, Below average5.7/10, Effective
Combined risk6.8/10, Tired5.0/10, Normal
Relief innings, last 7 days23.715.7
Back-to-back arms46
7-day ERA5.323.45
7-day WHIP1.561.15

Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.

Run total projection

Full Totals Projections →
LyDia projection
9.1
Market total
9.0
Projected away runs
3.2
Projected home runs
5.1
Over price
+102
Under price
-124
Washington Nationals team total
3.2 projected
Line 4.5 · O +120 / U -142
Under research lean (-1.3)
Philadelphia Phillies team total
5.1 projected
Line 5.5 · O +105 / U -124
No team-total lean

The model and market are close. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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