New York Mets vs Washington Nationals Prediction, Odds & Pitching Matchup: August 21, 2025

Thursday, August 21st, 2025

New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals: Preview, Pitching Matchup, and Key Players

The New York Mets (67-59, second in the NL East) travel to face the Washington Nationals (51-75, fifth in the NL East) in the rubber match of a three-game series at Nationals Park. With the series tied at one game apiece, both teams are hungry for a win to close out the set and gain momentum heading into the final weeks of the season.

Pitching Probables

The Mets are expected to start Sean Manaea (1-1, 4.78 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 37 strikeouts), while the Nationals will counter with MacKenzie Gore (5-12, 4.04 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 165 strikeouts). Manaea looks to improve his record in limited starts, while Gore aims to bounce back from a tough stretch.

Game Odds and Series Status

The Mets enter the game as favorites at -142, with the Nationals listed at +119. The over/under is set at 8 runs. This will be the teams’ tenth meeting of the season, with the Mets holding a 6-3 advantage in the season series.

Team Records and Home/Away Splits

Washington is 25-39 at home and overall 51-75. The Nationals are notably stronger when the long ball is flying, posting a 19-11 mark in games where they hit at least two home runs. The Mets, meanwhile, are 26-35 on the road and an impressive 67-59 overall. They rank eighth in MLB with 165 home runs, averaging 1.3 per contest.

Top Performers

For the Nationals, C.J. Abrams has been a consistent force, tallying 27 doubles, five triples, 16 home runs, and 50 RBIs. Paul DeJong has also come on strong, hitting .325 with four homers and ten RBIs over the last ten games.

The Mets boast power in their lineup, with Juan Soto recording 47 extra-base hits, including 16 doubles and 31 home runs. Brett Baty has delivered clutch performances, slugging four home runs and driving in seven runs during his last ten games.

Recent Form

In their last ten contests, the Nationals have split even at 5-5, hitting .263 as a team while posting a 5.32 ERA and being outscored by six runs. The Mets are 4-6 but hitting .306 as a club, with a 5.07 team ERA and outscoring opponents by eight runs over that stretch.

Injuries

The Nationals are dealing with several injuries: Trevor Williams (elbow), Keibert Ruiz (concussion), Derek Law (forearm), DJ Herz (elbow), and Josiah Gray (elbow) are all on the injured list.

For the Mets, Brandon Nimmo (neck) is day-to-day, while Francisco Alvarez (thumb), Jesse Winker (back), Max Kranick (elbow), Dedniel Nunez (elbow), Tylor Megill (elbow), Griffin Canning (achilles), Jose Siri (shin), Danny Young (elbow), A.J. Minter (lat), Nick Madrigal (shoulder), Drew Smith (elbow), and Christian Scott (elbow) all remain sidelined.

Weather

Today at Nationals Park, expect warm summer baseball weather with temperatures peaking near 85°F under mostly sunny skies. There is little to no chance of precipitation, ensuring dry playing conditions. Winds will be light out of the southwest at 6–9 mph, making for an ideal day for both players and fans.

In summary

Thursday's matchup between the Related Links

• New York Mets News & Updates
• New York Mets Schedule & Scores
• Washington Nationals News & Updates
• Washington Nationals Schedule & Scores
• MLB News