MLB Baseball
2026-08-04 - Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Tuesday 4th August 2026 - Scheduled 6:40pm EST
11:40pm (British Time)
Preview
The moves made by the Philadelphia Phillies (60-53) right up to the trade deadline underlines the kind of ability the management feel they already have in the dugout. Adding to that means all eyes are on a deep Playoff run in what is a very tough National League and the Phillies are 7.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and expected to be in a real dogfight to even earn a Wild Card spot.
The Phillies took the opener of this Divisional series and have continued to dominate the Washington Nationals (55-59), while also producing a third straight win overall.
The win also meant a sixth straight defeat for the Nationals and that has pushed them 5.5 games out of the Wild Card positions and also was likely a big factor in decisions made at the trade deadline. Washington allowed some important names to move on as the attention begins to turn to 2027, but they should still have motivation to play spoiler through the remaining weeks of the regular season.
Zack Littell will be getting the ball for the Washington Nationals with his 7-8 record and 4.94 ERA from twenty-two appearances in 2026. Fourteen of those have been in starts, while some of the relief outings have been as a long pitcher taking over from an opener and Zack Littell will be happy with his July performances.
Starts have still proven to be a little more difficult to manage, but Zack Littell did hold the Toronto Blue Jays off of the scoreboard through almost 5 Innings thrown most recently. That may still have meant ending July with a 0-2 record, but Littell did have an improved 3.86 ERA in his time on the mound.
He has faced Philadelphia twice out of the bullpen this season and Zack Littell has allowed five runs in 9 Innings thrown against them and also been given a decision defeat. Zack Littell now holds a 1-1 record and 5.17 ERA from eight appearances against the Phillies and this will be the second time he makes a start against them.
Philadelphia will counter through Jesus Luzardo who has a 9-5 record and 3.57 ERA in twenty-two starts this season, but who is looking to bounce back from a rough outing. While he did not factor into the final decision, Jesus Luzardo allowed six runs into the 7th Inning against the Miami Marlins and that ended a strong run of form.
Jesus Luzardo had put together a 5-1 record and 1.46 ERA in his eight previous starts before being rocked by the Marlins. During that run, Luzardo allowed a single earned run in one out shy of a full 7 Innings thrown against the Washington Nationals and he now has a 2-4 record and 4.53 ERA in previous career outings against this rival.
After dropping the first game between these National League East rivals in 2026, Philadelphia have won six of the last seven, including the last four in a row.
Prediction
The Philadelphia Phillies have just strengthened the batting lineup and the ballpark should be ready to back the home team to a successful night against the Washington Nationals.
Even without the new arrivals, the Phillies have been able to get after Zack Littell and that could lead to another relatively comfortable win on the final scoreboard.
The Pick :
Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 Washington Nationals
