MLB Baseball
2026-06-24 - Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Wednesday 24th June 2026 - Scheduled 6:45pm EST
11:45pm (British Time)
Preview
The Philadelphia Phillies (43-36) dropped the opening game of the season against National League East rivals Washington Nationals (41-39), but then won the next two to take the first series between these teams. This is the second of the season series that they will play against one another and once against the Philadelphia Phillies have bounced back from dropping the opener to win the next.
However, this is the third of a four game set and it is an important one for two teams with winning records, but who are chasing the halfway mark pacesetters in the Atlanta Braves. The National League East leaders are 5.5 games ahead of the Phillies and a further 2.5 games ahead of the Washington Nationals, but these series between Divisional rivals will also have a big impact in any Wild Card race they are involved in later in the year.
Two veterans will be heading to the mound and the teams that combined for twenty-three runs on Tuesday (14-9 Phillies win) may be looking forward to riding the momentum into this game.
The Washington Nationals will turn to Miles Mikolas who has a 2-6 record and 5.47 ERA in sixteen appearances this season, although only six of those have been in starts. The 37 year old pitcher has been a long-term starter in the Major Leagues, but he has shown a willingness to do whatever the Nationals ask of him, even if he has to change habits to work out of the bullpen.
Miles Mikolas has not started a game since May 12th, but he did just throw 6 Innings in a long reliever spot against the Tampa Bay Rays, although the five runs allowed meant absorbing the decision loss. In recent games, the long reliever spot has been reserved for Mikolas who has gone at least 6 Innings in three of the last four appearances out of the bullpen, including picking up a decision win.
Inconsistency has been an issue for Miles Mikolas as he prepares to face the Philadelphia Phillies for the first time since April 2025 when he allowed three runs in 5 Innings thrown.
The Phillies will counter by handing to ball to Aaron Nola and his 3-4 record and 5.71 ERA from fifteen starts made in 2026.
The numbers over the last season and a half will be worrying for Aaron Nola, especially if it means the Philadelphia Phillies look for more pitching support before the trade deadline. Aaron Nola is unbeaten in five starts where he has a 1-0 record and 5.04 ERA, but he has not really been able to work late into games and there has to be an improvement to remain a key part of the rotation.
Aaron Nola is also facing this opponent for the first time in 2026, but he finished with a 1-2 record from three starts against the Washington Nationals last season. He won the home start, but in two road starts, Aaron Nola gave up eleven runs in just under 8 Innings thrown and that may be a concern for the pitcher when heading back to this ballpark.
Philadelphia have won six of the last nine against this National League East rival.
Prediction
Both starting pitchers have something to prove on the mound and they may be a little wary as to how the Philadelphia and Washington batting lineups were seeing the ball on Tuesday.
Bullpens may be getting warmed up pretty quickly in this one if Aaron Nola and Miles Mikolas hit early walls and backing this game to surpass the total run line looks the play.
The Pick :
Washington Nationals 5-6 Philadelphia Phillies
