Washington Nationals vs San Francisco Giants Picks and Predictions May 25th 2025

Game Preview: San Francisco Giants vs. Washington Nationals

The San Francisco Giants and host Washington Nationals will clash on Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of their three-game series. Both teams aim to secure a series win, with key pitching matchups and recent offensive surges setting the stage for an intriguing finale. For broader insights on league performance, consult the general MLB Teams page.

Giants Pitching: Robbie Ray’s Resurgence

Left-hander Robbie Ray (6−0, 2.67 ERA) is scheduled to start for the San Francisco Giants as he looks to extend his impressive run. Ray has been dominant recently, holding a 3−0 record with a 1.38 ERA over his last four starts, during which he has allowed only four earned runs across 26 innings. The Giants have a formidable 9−1 record in his 10 starts this season, a significant milestone for Ray who has surpassed his combined starts from 2023 and 2024 due to recovering from Tommy John surgery and a hamstring injury. Giants manager Bob Melvin commented on Ray’s adaptation: “Went through a complete offseason, a full spring training. Incorporated a little bit of a different pitching style during spring training. Change-up, probably uses his breaking ball a little bit more and just like any veteran pitches who’s talented, he looks to get better and looks to mix things up and do things a little differently.” Historically, Ray holds a 2−5 record with a 5.75 ERA in eight career starts against the Nationals.

Nationals Pitching: Michael Soroka’s Return to Form

The Washington Nationals will counter with right-hander Michael Soroka (1−2, 5.95 ERA) for the series finale. Soroka, who recently returned from a right biceps strain, will be making his fifth start of the season. His last outing on May 18 against the Baltimore Orioles saw him earn a win, allowing three runs on seven hits (including two homers) over 532​ innings, with eight strikeouts and no walks in a 10−4 victory. This marked his first win since the 2023 season, following an 0−10 record with a 4.47 ERA last year for the Chicago White Sox. Soroka expressed his renewed focus on command: “(I wanted to) make sure that I got out there and beat up the zone. I always used to do that in the minor leagues and coming up — made a name for just living in the zone, no matter what the count, no matter what the situation was. So, I wanted to get back to that and prove to the Nationals when they signed me that those issues were behind me.” The 27-year-old Soroka has a 1−1 record with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts against San Francisco.

Team Trends and Statistics

The Nationals showcased their offensive power on Saturday, with James Wood hitting a two-run home run, contributing to their 3-0 victory which evened the series. The Giants had won the opener 4-0 on Friday. Washington has been on a strong run, winning six of its past seven games. Keibert Ruiz contributed two hits in Saturday’s game. Closer Kyle Finnegan was unavailable due to shoulder fatigue, leading to Jorge Lopez securing his first save for the Nationals. Finnegan downplayed the concern, stating, “Knock on wood, I’ve felt good throughout my career. It’s not something I’m concerned about. We had an opportunity to take an extra day off. I just wanted to wait until I fully bounce back.” Amed Rosario has been a consistent offensive threat for Washington, hitting safely in 12 of his past 15 games, including an active seven-game hitting streak during which he is batting .435 (10−for−23). For the Giants, Tyler Fitzgerald has been notable, batting .325 (25−for−77) with five doubles, one triple, two home runs, and 11 runs over his last 23 games.

Match Outlook

Giants manager Bob Melvin reflected on Saturday’s loss: “All in all, it just came down to one pitch. You don’t score any runs. … It is what it is.” This finale will test both teams’ ability to capitalize on opportunities. With Ray’s strong pitching and the Nationals’ recent offensive surge, this promises to be a tightly contested game. Keep track of all the matchups and lines with the latest MLB Scores and Odds.

For detailed analysis and betting recommendations, explore our MLB Expert Picks.