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Philadelphia Phillies vs Washington Nationals August 24th 2025
The Washington Nationals will take on the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The game is scheduled for Sunday, August 24, 2025, at 1:35 PM. Fans can catch the game on MASN.
The Nationals hold a record of 53-76 and are currently in the 5th spot in the NL East. Meanwhile, the Phillies lead the division with a record of 75-54. Jake Irvin will start for the Nationals, while Ranger Suárez will be on the mound for the Phillies.
Nationals vs Phillies Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Washington Nationals vs. Philadelphia Phillies
- Venue: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA
- Date: Sunday, August 24, 2025
- Betting Odds: Nationals Moneyline +229, Phillies Moneyline -278, Nationals Runline +1.5 (+116), Phillies Runline -1.5 (-138), Total Over 9.5 (-108), Total Under 9.5 (-112)
The Nationals Can Win If…
The Washington Nationals recently played against the Philadelphia Phillies and lost 6-4. Despite the loss, the Nationals showed strong hitting with nine hits and two home runs. Luis García Jr. had a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.
Washington’s offense has been consistent, ranking 7th in doubles and stolen bases in the league. Their ability to hit for extra bases gives them a chance to score quickly. Players like CJ Abrams and James Wood provide power, with Abrams having 17 home runs and Wood leading the team with 26.
Jake Irvin is set to start, bringing an 8-8 record and experience to the mound. While his ERA is 5.30, he has the potential to keep the game within reach. The Nationals’ lineup, with players like Daylen Lile and Dylan Crews, can capitalize on scoring opportunities against the Phillies’ pitching.
The Phillies Can Win If…
The Philadelphia Phillies are coming off a 6-4 win against the Washington Nationals. Aaron Nola pitched six innings, allowing three runs and striking out six. Edmundo Sosa and Trea Turner both hit home runs, contributing to the team’s victory.
The Phillies have a strong batting lineup, ranking 2nd in batting average at .258. They also rank 4th in on-base percentage and have hit 160 home runs this season. With these stats, their offense can be a key factor in winning the game.
Ranger Suárez will start for the Phillies with an ERA of 3.25. He has been effective this season, helping the team with quality starts. His performance can be crucial in keeping the Nationals’ hitters in check.
The Lean
The Phillies are favored with a moneyline of -278. The Nationals sit at +229. Given the Phillies’ strong hitting and pitching stats, they are likely to win. The model projects a score of Phillies 6, Nationals 3. This supports a pick for the Phillies to win straight up.
The total for the game is set at 9.5 runs. The model projects a combined score of 9 runs. With the Phillies’ solid pitching and the Nationals’ lower-ranked hitting, the game might stay under the total. Thus, the recommendation is to take the under 9.5.
Future Odds Shifting?
See Updated MLB Futures
Wheeler’s injury shakes up Phillies rotation
The Philadelphia Phillies were dealt a tough blow this weekend when ace Zack Wheeler was ruled out for the rest of the season with venous thoracic outlet syndrome. What was shaping up to be a deep six-man rotation has now been trimmed to five, and every arm will need to step up if Philadelphia wants to maintain control of the NL East down the stretch.
Even without their ace, the Phillies haven’t lost their edge. After dropping Friday’s opener to the Washington Nationals, Philadelphia bounced back on Saturday with a 6-4 victory, their fifth win in six games. Edmundo Sosa sparked the offense with a three-run shot during a five-run fourth inning, and Trea Turner followed with a leadoff homer in the fifth to keep momentum rolling.
The bullpen held firm as Jhoan Duran rebounded from his first blown save with the Phillies by locking down the ninth inning. The win not only kept Philadelphia’s lead in the division intact but also showed that this team can adjust quickly in the face of adversity.
Suarez takes the ball in Sunday’s finale
Now the focus shifts to Ranger Suarez, who gets the start in the decisive third game of the series. Suarez has been a stabilizing presence all year, going 9-6 with a 3.25 ERA. His most recent outing was a gem: six and two-thirds innings of two-run ball against the Mariners, with a career-high-tying 10 strikeouts.
The left-hander has admitted that Wheeler’s absence has weighed on the rotation, but he’s using it as motivation. Suarez is no stranger to facing Washington either, with a career mark of 7-2 and a 4.47 ERA across 16 appearances against the Nationals.
On the other side, Washington hands the ball to Jake Irvin, who has struggled throughout August. He’s 0-3 with a 9.31 ERA in four starts this month and has been undone by big innings in nearly every outing. Against the Mets earlier in the week, one bad frame led to six runs, including two home runs. His season numbers against Philadelphia don’t offer much comfort either, as he is 0-4 with a 6.10 ERA in seven career starts against the Phillies.
| Sunday’s Probable Starters | Record | ERA | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger Suarez (PHI) | 9-6 | 3.25 | 10 K in last start, 7-2 career vs WSH |
| Jake Irvin (WSH) | 8-8 | 5.30 | 0-4, 6.10 ERA career vs PHI |
Phillies lineup keeps finding answers
While the loss of Wheeler looms large, the Phillies’ offense continues to find timely production. Sosa and Turner powered Saturday’s win, and the lineup has shown the ability to deliver in big moments throughout August. Philadelphia has won 12 of its last 15 games, keeping pressure on division rivals like the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets.
What makes this Phillies team dangerous is its depth. With Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber already anchoring the order, players like Sosa have stepped up at key times, giving the lineup more balance. Even in tight games, Philadelphia has found ways to respond quickly — a trait that’s carried them into September with confidence.
Nationals searching for consistency
The Nationals entered this series on a three-game winning streak, but Saturday’s loss showed their ongoing challenges against playoff-caliber opponents. Luis Garcia Jr. continued to shine with his second three-hit game against Philadelphia in just a week, and CJ Abrams added a home run to keep things close.
Washington has seen bright spots in player development, but Irvin’s struggles highlight the inconsistency that has hurt them all season. Interim manager Miguel Cairo has emphasized limiting “big innings,” but it’s been a recurring problem that often leaves the team playing catch-up.
| Nationals vs Phillies (2025 Season) | Result |
|---|---|
| April 30 @ PHI | Nationals lost 7-2 |
| Aug 24 @ PHI | Nationals lost 6-4 |
| Aug 25 @ PHI | Series finale TBD |
What’s next?
For Philadelphia, Sunday’s finale isn’t just about winning a series against Washington — it’s about setting the tone for the post-Wheeler stretch run. Suarez’s performance will be watched closely, as the Phillies will need him and the rest of the rotation to carry the load in September.
The Nationals, meanwhile, are in evaluation mode. Development from players like Garcia and Abrams offers hope for the future, but pitching remains a clear area of concern.
Fans and bettors alike can follow the latest MLB odds and scores to see how Philadelphia’s rotation shuffle and Washington’s inconsistencies shape the outcome of the finale.
