The Kansas City Royals (60-60) host the Washington Nationals (47-72) on August 13, 2025. First pitch from Kauffman Stadium is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET; the game will be broadcast on FDSKC.
Find my MLB betting preview and Nationals vs Royals prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, betting trends, injury reports and more.
Our Nationals vs Royals Prediction
- Nationals vs Royals pick: Under 9 (-115)
Our Nationals vs Royals best bet is on the under 9 total runs. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Nationals vs Royals Odds
| Nationals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -135 | 9 100o / -120u | +150 |
| Royals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +115 | 9 100o / -120u | -185 |
Nationals vs Royals Projected Starting Pitchers
| RHP Jake Irvin (WSN) | Stat | RHP Seth Lugo (KCR) |
|---|---|---|
| 8-7 | W-L | 8-6 |
| 0.2 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.9 |
| 4.90/5.32 | ERA /xERA | 3.46/5.05 |
| 5.29/4.69 | FIP / xFIP | 4.66/4.30 |
| 1.34 | WHIP | 1.20 |
| 8.2% | K-BB% | 12.5% |
| 43.9% | GB% | 39.5% |
| 91 | Stuff+ | 92 |
| 105 | Location+ | 94 |
Nationals vs Royals Prediction, Betting Analysis
The Kansas City Royals (-185 in the moneyline) look to complete a sweep of the Washington Nationals (+150) in Game 3 of their series. The first two games have been high-scoring affairs — 7-4 and 8-5 Royals wins — but the market suggests a shift for Wednesday’s finale.
Kansas City reached the .500 mark for the second time since mid-June thanks to Vinnie Pasquantino’s five-RBI performance in Game 2. The Royals also get Kyle Isbel back in the starting lineup, and he’s hitting .333 with an .851 OPS since the All-Star break.
Washington counters with Jake Irvin, who has been sharp on the road lately, posting a 2.60 ERA with 10 strikeouts over his last three away starts (17 1/3 IP). Seth Lugo will get the ball for Kansas City.
The total opened at 9.5 before dropping to 9, triggering the Steam Unders with Low OU Support system from Evan Abrams. This approach targets games where sharp money pushes totals down in the 8–10 range while the public largely favors the over. That mismatch — low public confidence in the under, paired with significant but not extreme sharp action — historically produces profitable results.
Additional filters, such as avoiding extreme weather and excluding teams riding unsustainable scoring streaks, make this setup even stronger. With two steady starting pitchers, mild weather conditions, and the market’s move toward the under despite recent high-scoring games, this spot fits the system’s criteria well.
Pick: Under 9 (-115, Fanatics)
Nationals vs Royals Betting Trends
