The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Washington Nationals on Thursday, April 16. First pitch from PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. ET. The game can be streamed live on MLB.TV.
The Pirates are -166 on the moneyline and -1.5 on the run line. The Nationals are +140 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8.5 runs.
Read on for my Nationals vs Pirates predictions and MLB parlay picks.
Nationals vs Pirates Predictions, Pick
- NRFI
- CJ Abrams Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
Nationals vs Pirates Odds
| Nationals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -156 | 8.5 -122o / -100u | +140 |
| Pirates Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +130 | 8.5 -122o / -100u | -166 |
- Nationals vs Pirates Moneyline: Nationals +140, Pirates -166
- Nationals vs Pirates Over/Under: 8.5 (-122 / -100)
- Nationals vs Pirates Spread: Nationals +1.5 (-156), Pirates -1.5 (+130)
Nationals vs Pirates MLB Same-Game Parlay
Leg 1: NRFI
Despite this game featuring a pitching matchup between two arms without much MLB experience, both Braxton Ashcraft and Foster Griffin have been phenomenal to start their respective 2026 campaigns — both starting pitchers boast an ERA under 2.12.
In the first three games of the series, we saw plenty of offense, as both lineups boast elite young talent, including CJ Abrams, James Wood, Oneil Cruz, and Brandon Lowe.
Given the pretty high-scoring affairs in this series thus far, it is not surprising that most are expecting more of the same on Thursday.
While I have been extremely high on the aforementioned young talent featured in both lineups, I would not be surprised to see more of a pitcher’s duel on Thursday, starting with six quick outs in the first frame.
Leg 2: CJ Abrams Over 1.5 HRR
If you have read any of my prior SGP articles, I frequently target negatively correlated wagers, which in turn magnify the overall value of a parlay.
Given that the first leg of our wager is correlated with the game total going under, targeting a player to exceed his prop total often adds additional value.
In this case, I will be looking to back CJ Abrams to have a big game.
I was very early on the CJ Abrams hype train, and he is finally living up to expectations. Over the first month of the season, Abrams ranks amongst the top five MLB hitters in average (.356). He also ranks third in homers (six) and second in RBIs (19).
While Ashcraft has been hot for the Pirates to start the season, I would not be surprised to see him eventually fade against Washington’s elite lineup.
Washington’s 25-year-old is already making a case as one of the most talented players in the league, and I expect him to continue his scorching form on Thursday.
SGP Picks:
- NRFI
- CJ Abrams Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
