Pirates vs. Nationals: Game 1 prediction, lineup, odds, injuries, and picks - Sept. 12, 2025

The Washington Nationals host the Pittsburgh Pirates for a three-game series over the weekend, starting Friday. Pittsburgh won three of four meetings with Washington in April.

The Nationals (60-86, fifth in the NL East) dropped their last two games of the series against the Miami Marlins. It followed a strong stretch where they had won seven of their previous eight games.

The Pirates (64-83, fifth in the NL Central), meanwhile, were handed back-to-back series sweeps by the Baltimore Orioles and the Milwaukee Brewers. All three losses against the Os came by a one-run margin, with less than five runs scored in each game.

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Pirates vs. Nationals Game 1: Betting Odds and Weather

Time: 6:45 p.m. EDT at Nationals Park

Money Line: Nationals -110, Pirates -109

Total Runs: Over/Under is 8.0 runs

Weather: Sunny, 78 degrees F, 0% precipitation, Wind 6 mph

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Pirates vs. Nationals Game 1: Injuries and Lineups

Injuries

Pirates

• Ronny Simon: 10-Day IL (shoulder),
• Jack Suwinski: 10-Day IL (groin),
• Endy Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow),
• Enmanuel Valdez: 60-Day IL (shoulder),
• Justin Lawrence: 60-Day IL (elbow),
• Jared Jones: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Nationals

• Drew Millas: 60-Day IL (finger),
• Trevor Williams: 60-Day IL (elbow),
• Keibert Ruiz: 7-Day IL (concussion),
• Derek Law: 60-Day IL (forearm),
• DJ Herz: 60-Day IL (elbow),
• Josiah Gray: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Expected Lineups

Pirates

1. SS Jared Triolo R
2. 2B N. Gonzales R
3. RF B. Reynolds S
4. LF Tommy Pham R
5. DH A. McCutchen R
6. CF A. Canario R
7. C Henry Davis R
8. 1B Nick Yorke R
9. 3B Cam Devanney R

Nationals

1. SS CJ Abrams L
2. DH James Wood L
3. 1B Josh Bell S
4. LF Daylen Lile L
5. 2B Luis Garcia L
6. C Riley Adams R
7. RF Dylan Crews R
8. CF R. Hassell L
9. 3B Brady House R

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Pirates vs. Nationals Game 1: Expert Picks and Prediction

The Pirates' Mitch Keller (6-14, 4.16 ERA) battles the Nationals' Brad Lord (5-8, 4.20 ERA) in the starting pitcher battle. Keller has earned five runs in his last three starts of 17.1 innings pitched, while Lord had a high 7.06 ERA to end August, making six starts.

The Pirates' lineup is firing at just a .193 collective batting average, while the Nationals are miles ahead with a .266 BA in their last ten stretch. Washington's Daylen Lile has eight extra base hits in his last 10 games, while going 17-for-41. Oneil Cruz and Nick Gonzales remain Pittsburgh's major at-bats.

Prediction: Pirates 6, Nationals 5

Picks: Nationals ML (-110), Over 8.0 runs