Washington Nationals vs New York Yankees Picks and Predictions August 26th 2024

Nats calling up Dylan Crews for battle with Aaron Judge, Yanks

There does appear to be a chance for light rain in Washington, D.C. on Monday, where the Nationals and Yankees will square off at Nationals Park. First pitch is currently scheduled for 6:45 PM ET. YES will be televising Monday’s Yankees game, while the Nationals are 4th in the NL East with a record of 59-72.

New York is currently favored on the money line, as their odds are sitting at -186 compared to the Nationals at +156. The over/under line is at 9 runs, and Monday’s pitching matchup is Nestor Cortes for the Yankees and Mitchell Parker for the Nationals.

New York vs. Washington Key Information

• Teams: Yankees at Nationals
• Where: Nationals Park Washington
• Date: Monday, August 26th
• Betting Odds NYY -186 | WSH +156 O/U 9

The Yankees Can Win If…

New York is sending left-hander Nestor Cortes to the mound today vs. the Nationals. So far this season, he has made 26 starts and has a record of 7-10. Cortes’ ERA is currently 4.00, and he has a WHIP of 1.15. In his 26 appearances, Cortes has turned in 11 quality starts, and his ERA at home is 3.30 compared to 5.84 on the road. In his last outing, Cortes didn’t allow a run in seven innings of work, picking up the win. Before that, he had allowed at least two earned runs in four straight outings.

Heading into today’s game, the Yankees are the league’s top-scoring offense at 5.1 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.4 runs per contest. Overall, they are the league’s best home run hitting team and have the top team on-base percentage in the league. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are the team’s top two hitters in terms of batting average, with Judge leading the MLB with 51 homers and 122 RBIs.

Over his last nine games, Aaron Judge has gone 11/33 with eight homers and 12 RBIs. Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres are also on hitting streaks, with Stanton at four games and Torres at five.

• The Yankees are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Yankees are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• New York has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Yankees have an average of 5.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Yankees are 7-3
• Looking back across the Yankees last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• New York has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Yankees have averaged 5.6 runs per game on offense

The Nationals Can Win If…

Left-hander Mitchell Parker gets the start for the Nationals today as he faces the Yankees at home. Parker has made 23 starts this season and has a record of 7-7 with a 4.25 ERA. Looking at his overall numbers, Parker has a WHIP of 1.25 and has issued just 2.35 walks per nine innings compared to 7.63 strikeouts. Parker’s ERA on the road is 11.09, along with a record of 2-5. At home, he is 5-2 with a 3.62 ERA. In his last outing, Parker gave up just one earned run in seven innings of work, earning the win. Before that, he had given up at least two earned runs in four straight outings.

For the season, the Nationals are averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 19th in the league. They have been a little better at home, averaging 4.3 runs per game. Washington comes into the game with the league’s worst home run total and are near the bottom of the league in terms of slugging percentage and isolated power.

Luis Garcia Jr. comes into the game with a team-leading 63 RBIs, and his 15 homers are the 2nd most on the team. CJ Abrams has hit 18 homers this season, but is just 10th on the team with a batting average of .249. Over his last eight games, Jose Tena is hitting .367 with four RBIs, and Alex Call has gone just 5/25 in his last seven games.

• The Nationals are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Nationals are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Washington has an over/under record of 3-7 in their last ten games.
• The Nationals have an average of 4.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Nationals are 3-7
• Looking back across the Nationals last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Washington has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Nationals have averaged 3.5 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Our lean for an over/under pick would be to take the over, as we have this as the 2nd lowest projected scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Yankees to pick up the win. Looking at today’s starters, Nestor Cortes has the 5th best chance to pick up a win, while Mitchell Parker has the 3rd worst strikeout projection among today’s starters.

The Washington Nationals are set to showcase their top prospect, Dylan Crews, as they host Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees on Monday night, marking the opener of a highly anticipated three-game series. Crews’ major league debut comes at a critical juncture for the Nationals and against a Yankees team powered by one of baseball’s most formidable hitters.

Crews’ Debut: A Glimpse into the Nationals’ Future

Dylan Crews, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, is poised to make an impactful debut in the majors. The 22-year-old outfielder has rapidly climbed through the minor league ranks, demonstrating why he’s Washington’s No. 1 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.

After starting the season at Double-A Harrisburg, where he posted a .274 batting average with five home runs, 38 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 51 games, Crews was promoted to Triple-A Rochester. There, he continued to impress, hitting .265 with eight homers, 30 RBIs, and 10 steals in 49 games. His consistent performance has earned him a spot on the Nationals’ roster, making him the eighth prospect to debut for the team this year.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez praised Crews, stating, “He’s having a great year, he really is. We all know that he’s a big part of our future.” As the Nationals look to rebuild and compete in the coming seasons, Crews’ development will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.

Aaron Judge: Chasing History

Aaron Judge enters the series with the Nationals on a historic tear. The Yankees slugger hit his 50th and 51st home runs of the season in a dominant 10-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. Judge is on pace to surpass his own American League home run record, which he set just last year, with projections suggesting he could reach 63 homers this season.

Judge’s power surge has been a key factor in keeping the Yankees atop the AL East, as they currently hold a 1 1/2 game lead over the Baltimore Orioles. With three 50-homer seasons already under his belt, Judge continues to cement his legacy as one of the most prolific power hitters in baseball history.

Pitching Showdown: Nestor Cortes vs. Mitchell Parker

Monday night’s game will feature a compelling pitching matchup between two left-handers: Nestor Cortes for the Yankees and Mitchell Parker for the Nationals.

Cortes (7-10, 4.00 ERA) has been in excellent form recently, delivering back-to-back wins with seven scoreless innings in each of his last two starts against the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox. His ability to control the game will be crucial as he faces a Nationals lineup infused with young talent.

On the mound for Washington, Mitchell Parker (7-7, 4.26 ERA) will look to continue his recent success after securing a win against the Colorado Rockies last Wednesday. Parker allowed just one run over seven innings in that outing and will face the formidable task of containing Aaron Judge, who leads the Yankees’ potent offense.

Nationals’ Resilience: Building Momentum

The Nationals enter the series on a positive note after defeating the Atlanta Braves 5-1 on Sunday, salvaging the finale of their three-game set. Washington has already clinched the season series against Atlanta, leading 7-4 with two games remaining—a notable achievement against one of the league’s top teams.

CJ Abrams and Jacob Young were key contributors in the victory, each recording two hits, with Abrams driving in two runs. The Nationals’ ability to compete with and overcome strong teams like the Braves speaks to their resilience and determination, qualities that will be tested against the Yankees.

Manager Dave Martinez emphasized the importance of his team’s hard work, saying, “Teams that we play, they always say the same thing: ‘You guys play hard. You just don’t give up.’ That’s a good thing. Now we’ve just got to understand how in some of these close games, how to finish games, get that extra run. When we do that, we’re going to be fine.”

A Clash of Generations: Crews vs. Judge

The series between the Nationals and Yankees is more than just another set of games—it’s a clash of generations. On one side, you have Aaron Judge, a seasoned superstar in the prime of his career, rewriting the record books with each passing game. On the other, Dylan Crews, a young, dynamic player stepping onto the major league stage for the first time, representing the future of the Nationals franchise.

As Crews takes the field, fans will be watching closely to see how he measures up against one of the game’s greats. His debut, set against the backdrop of Judge’s historic season, adds a layer of excitement and narrative to what promises to be an unforgettable series.

Looking Ahead

With the Yankees fighting to maintain their lead in the AL East and the Nationals continuing to develop their young core, this series offers plenty of intrigue and potential storylines. Will Dylan Crews rise to the occasion and make an immediate impact? Can Aaron Judge continue his record-setting pace?

All eyes will be on Nationals Park as these two teams square off in what could be a defining moment for both franchises. Whether you’re a fan of the old guard or excited about the next generation, this series is not one to miss.

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