The Washington Nationals’ 2019 World Series championship seems farther and farther away every day.
The Nationals lost a Major League-high 107 games in 2022 and dealt their face of the franchise Juan Soto in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres. That trade came after Washington watched ace pitcher Max Scherzer and superstar infielder Trea Turner depart via a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021.
Washington is one of the few MLB teams that look out of contention before the 2023 season even begins. But that doesn’t mean Nats fans in the DMV, or anywhere else in the country, can’t bet on Washington futures.
Here’s a glance at the Nationals’ outlook for 2023.
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Nationals Top Betting Odds 2023
Washington Nationals MLB betting odds are current as of March 6, 2023, from Caesars Sportsbook.
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- World Series Winners: +30000
- Win National League pennant: +20000
- Win NL East title: +20000
- Win Total: Over 60 Wins (-110)/Under 60 Wins (-110)
Washington has by far the longest odds of any team to win the NL East crown and has the longest odds of winning the National League. The Nationals share the longest World Series odds with the Oakland Athletics.
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Nationals Futures Bets 2023
Nationals Win Total Under 60 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
There’s not a single household name in Washington’s offensive lineup, and although stars don’t necessarily translate to wins in baseball, there are almost always growing pains when a team lets the kids play. Washington won just 55 games in 2022 with a half-season of Soto and first baseman Josh Bell, who also went west in the blockbuster deal.
Maybe ace starter Stephen Strasburg gets back to form and can make 15-20 starts after missing most of the past two seasons due to injury. Maybe Patrick Corbin isn’t the worst starting pitcher in MLB and can get his ERA below 6.
Maybe the Nats somehow play better than their 17-59 record against the NL East last season. But the over assumes this team won’t lose 102 games. I find that hard to believe.
Nationals Player Props 2023
Cade Cavalli To Win NL Rookie of the Year (+1800) at Caesars Sportsbook
Wager: 0.5 Units
The Nats are a longshot to earn any postseason honors, but Cavalli has the potential to serve as a rare bright spot in the nation’s capital this season. He’ll probably be a middle-of-the-rotation guy, likely the No. 3 starter, which should earn him favorable matchups, and with a 70-grade fast ball and plus-secondary stuff, Cavalli has a chance to garner attention as a good pitcher on a terrible club.
That’s not to say Cavalli will win ROY — he has the ninth-shortest odds of any NL player. But FanGraphs projects a 6-8 record and 4.38 ERA in 23 starts, so if he exceeds that, the award is possible.
How to Bet Nationals Moneylines
Moneyline bets are a simple way of wagering on MLB games. All you need to do is pick the winner of the game, and you’ll win your bet.
Odds may look somewhat confusing, but they aren’t. For instance, if the Nationals are a -200 favorite, you’d need to bet $20 in order to win $10, and if they are a +200 underdog a $10 bet would fetch $20 in profit.
The odds will get longer and shorter depending on Washington’s matchup. Given the Nationals’ roster and outlook, they’re likely to be plus-money underdogs a lot in 2023, which means there’ll be value.
- Nationals 2022 Moneyline Record: 55-107
How to Bet Nationals Run Line
Run-line betting is another name for spread betting in baseball. Usually in MLB games, favorites are listed to win by 1.5 runs, and underdogs are asked to cover 1.5 runs. Odds adjust accordingly.
Because baseball games are usually decided by one run, betting an underdog to cover the spread can give great value. If the Nationals were favored at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the line may look like this: Washington (-1.5, +125), Pittsburgh (+1.5, -140). Washington would need to win by two or more runs to win.
If the Nationals were underdogs, the line may look like this: Washington (+1.5, -110) vs Pittsburgh (-1.5, -110). In this instance, Washington would need to win or lose by only one run for the wager to cash.
- Nationals 2022 Run Line Record: 70-92
How to Bet Nationals Over/Unders
If you don’t love the Nationals to win and don’t want to bet against them to lose, you can still wager on totals, or over/under betting. In baseball the total is typically around eight runs, and bettors are asked to wager if there would be more or fewer than that.
For instance, if the Nationals are playing the Orioles in Baltimore, and you think the game will be a high-scoring game, you can bet the over. Or if Strasburg is facing off against Scherzer or another NL team with an ace starter, you can bet the under.
- Nationals 2022 Over/Under Record: 75-78-9
