Washington Nationals @ Cincinnati Reds - May 3, 2025

As a seasoned bettor with years of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that this matchup between the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park is one for the books. With right-hander Trevor Williams taking the mound for Washington and lefty Nick Lodolo representing Cincinnati, we’re in for a thrilling evening of baseball.

Looking at the stats, it’s clear that Lodolo has been the more reliable arm on the bump. His 3-2 record and sparkling 2.25 ERA stand out like a lighthouse guiding us through choppy waters. In contrast, Williams’ numbers—1-3 with a 5.70 ERA—tell the story of a struggling pitcher trying to find his footing in what has been a challenging season.

The Reds have shown some real fire lately; they’ve been playing well with a 7-2 record over their last nine games. The team boasts an average of just under five runs per game and has managed to hit nearly eight-and-a-half times per contest—a mark that can certainly put pressure on any pitching staff they face. In addition, their recent performance against Washington—most notably their recent 6-1 victory—has them riding high into this matchup.

Conversely, Washington’s struggles are evident as they find themselves sitting at 14-19 overall and limping into this game having lost four out of their last five outings. Their offense averages just over four runs per game with an alarming low batting average hovering around .236—a stat that doesn’t inspire much confidence when facing off against a dominant pitcher like Lodolo.

Now let’s talk about betting lines: Oddsmakers opened up with Cincinnati as -172 favorites, which makes sense given their current form and home-field advantage. It’s hard not to see value in backing them tonight; after all, there’s something about winning streaks that draws bettors in like moths to a flame.

As far as total runs are concerned, I believe we could be seeing an OVER situation here despite Lodolo’s presence on the mound. Both teams have displayed offensive capabilities recently—Washington going OVER in four of its last six games while Cincinnati has seen the UNDER hit only twice in their past seven contests.

All things considered, my prediction is simple: The Reds will triumph over the Nationals tonight. And expect both teams to contribute enough offense to push this total OVER as they battle it out under those bright lights at Great American Ball Park.

So grab your lucky charm and get ready! This one promises excitement, tension, and hopefully some sweet payout tickets come night’s end!