Philadelphia Phillies vs Washington Nationals Picks and Predictions May 1st 2025

Dominant Phillies Look to Complete Sweep of Slumping Nationals

The Philadelphia Phillies are surging at just the right time. With a four-game winning streak and two strong victories already under their belt against the Washington Nationals, they’ll take the field Thursday night looking to seal a commanding sweep. For the Nationals, the situation is far more dire—they’re stuck in a three-game losing skid and desperate for a bounce-back.

Let’s break down the key factors driving this series and what to expect from Thursday’s critical matchup. Be sure to also check the MLB Expert Handicappers thoughts on the latest matchup

Phillies’ Offense Is Clicking on All Cylinders

The Phillies’ offensive unit has shown explosive potential throughout this series. In Tuesday’s opener, they clawed back with two late runs to edge out the Nationals 7-6. They followed that effort with a dominant 7-2 performance Wednesday, powered by home runs from Kyle Schwarber, Max Kepler, and J.T. Realmuto.

Key Stat:

• The Phillies have scored 14 runs in two games against Washington.

Veteran Kyle Schwarber, speaking after the recent wins, emphasized the importance of learning and adapting during the marathon 162-game MLB season:

“Every day’s an opportunity to learn. And we’ve got an experienced group. We’ve found our way into where we want to be. That mindset? That’s a good thing to have.”

This quote reflects a resilient and focused clubhouse, clearly locked in and confident as they climb the standings.

Washington’s Struggles Continue

The Nationals are stuck in a funk, both at the plate and on the mound. In Wednesday’s loss, they mustered only five hits, with top batters like Josh Bell and Dylan Crews going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts each.

Pitching didn’t help matters either—Jake Irvin gave up a season-worst six runs, failing to keep the game competitive early on.

Nationals’ Key Weaknesses:

• Lack of early offense: Continuously playing from behind.
• Starter struggles: Unable to go deep into games.
• Cold bats: Star hitters failing to make contact.

Manager Dave Martinez acknowledged the need for a change in approach:

“We’ve got to come out, score some early runs, and put the pressure on them.”

Pitching Matchup: Taijuan Walker vs. Brad Lord

Phillies: Taijuan Walker (1-2, 2.78 ERA)

Walker brings veteran poise to the mound, though he’s struggled to go deep in recent games. His last outing lasted only 3 innings (86 pitches), and he hasn’t surpassed 5 innings in four straight starts.

That said, Walker holds a 2-1 record and 3.76 ERA in seven career starts against the Nationals.

Career vs. Nationals:

• Most experienced opponent: Josh Bell (4-for-15, 1 HR, 3 BB)

Nationals: Brad Lord (0-3, 4.67 ERA)

Rookie Brad Lord is still finding his footing. He’s yet to make it past the 4⅓ inning mark in any of his four starts, and the Nationals have only scored four total runs during his last three outings.

He previously pitched in relief against Philadelphia earlier this year—allowing two walks and a hit while facing just three batters.

Recent Start:

• vs. Mets: 4 IP, 2 ER (home run by Francisco Alvarez)

Industry’s Best MLB

Handicapping Membership

Get Free Trial

What to Watch For Tonight

• Will Walker find the rhythm to pitch deep?
• Can Washington’s offense finally produce early?
• Will Schwarber stay hot at the plate?

Conclusion

The Philadelphia Phillies are red-hot and poised to finish off a sweep against a reeling Nationals squad. With a powerful lineup and experienced pitching, they’re clearly in control. Unless the Nationals find a spark quickly—particularly from Josh Bell, Dylan Crews, and their rookie starter Brad Lord—they’ll be heading home with another L.