Wednesday’s MLB slate begins with afternoon baseball in Detroit, Michigan, as the Tigers (74-84) host the Washington Nationals (74-84) to conclude this three-game interleague series with a good old-fashioned rubber match to decide the overall winner.
The Tigers started the series off strong with a 9-2 victory in Monday’s opener in a game in which Javier BĆ”ez, Ben Malgeri, and Spencer Torkelson all homered. The Nationals then evened things up with a low-scoring 3-1 win Tuesday night, powered by CJ Abrams’ solo home run in the second inning and go-ahead two-run shot in the seventh, his 32nd and 33rd home runs of the season.
Nationals ace and breakout pitcher Cade Cavalli was originally scheduled to start Wednesday afternoon, but Washington has decided to shut down the right-hander for the season despite him being healthy, with it being the final week and the team out of the playoff picture. Instead, the Nationals are planning to use a bullpen game in the series finale, with veteran left-hander Richard Lovelady set to open the game.
The Tigers will counter with left-hander Framber Valdez, who brings a 10-11 record and 4.06 ERA into the matchup. The veteran is looking to end his first season with Detroit on a high note, having found late-season success with a very good 1.50 ERA through his first three starts of September.
Both teams may be eliminated from playoff contention, but these are still real games that matter for individual stats, potential future contracts or playing time, and overall pride. Get Nationals vs. Tigers predictions, picks, and more below for Wednesday afternoon’s rubber match at Comerica Park.
Nationals vs. Tigers Odds
The Tigers are listed as home favorites at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook for Wednesday’s series finale:
Nationals vs. Tigers Predictions
Wednesday’s Nationals vs. Tigers game offers an early opportunity to get involved in the baseball betting action at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. Make sure to use the Stats Hub to your advantage when placing wagers like our Nationals vs. Tigers prediction below, where you can find daily MLB insights and trends:
Tigers vs. Nationals Best Bet: Framber Valdez Over 1.5 Earned Runs (-145)
Framber Valdez has been pitching well over the last two months, particularly here in September, but he is coming off a start in which he allowed three earned runs over five innings of work in a loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 17.
The Nationals’ offense hasn’t necessarily been scoring a ton of runs, averaging roughly 2.7 runs per game over its last three contests, but Valdez’s earned runs line being set at a low number of 1.5 for a pitcher with a 4.06 ERA this season is hard to ignore, no matter how successful he’s been on the mound lately.
- Tigers vs. Nationals Player Prop Pick for Sept. 23: Framber Valdez Over 1.5 Earned Runs (-145)
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props for WSH-DET
Hits props are dominating the player prop markets, with 2026 American League Rookie of the Year runaway favorite Kevin McGonigle (-10000 at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook) attracting the most attention:
- Kevin McGonigle – Over 0.5 Hits
- Hao-Yu Lee – Over 0.5 Hits
- Riley Greene – Over 0.5 Hits
- James Wood – Over 0.5 Hits
- Dillon Dingler – Over 0.5 Hits
Nationals vs. Tigers Game Info
- š Where: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
- š Date: Wednesday, Sept. 23
- ā° First Pitch: 1:10 PM ET
- šŗš» TV/Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, MLB.TV
- ā¾ Probable Pitchers:
- Nationals: Richard Lovelady
- Tigers: Framber Valdez
More Ways to Bet
One swing can cash your ticket, but until then, Florida players can keep things interesting with Real Money Games powered by Past Motor Racing, only on Hard Rock Bet. Itās another way to stay engaged between plate appearances.
Referenced odds are subject to change.
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