Prop Bets: San Diego Padres VS Washington Nationals 2025-07-20
San Diego Padres vs. Washington Nationals: A Comedy of Errors (and Pivetta’s Perfection)
July 20, 2025 | 1:36 PM ET
The Setup:
Nick Pivetta, the Padres’ pitching version of a Swiss Army knife, faces a Nationals lineup that’s been softer than a day-old soufflé. Pivetta has silenced opponents for 25⅔ innings, surrendering just 1 run. Meanwhile, MacKenzie Gore, the Nationals’ starter, has been a human sprinkler of runs—9 earned in his last 23 innings. The Padres (-116) are favorites, and for good reason: their staff strikes out batters like they’re supposed to (8.8 K/9, 6th in MLB). The Nationals (-104) are here to mock their own five-game losing streak, I think.
Why the Padres Win:
- Pivetta’s Pitching: Imagine a pitcher who’s allowed 1 run over his last two starts. Now imagine that pitcher not being a figment of your imagination. That’s Nick Pivetta.
- Nationals’ Hitting: The Nats have the ERA of a leaky dam (5.24) and a lineup that’s hit 0.5 home runs per game. Fun fact: 0.5 HRs is also how many times they’ve won as underdogs this season.
Why the Nationals Might Succeed:
- MacKenzie Gore’s “Breakout” Attempt: Let’s pretend Gore isn’t a human piñata waiting to burst. Let’s pretend.
- Luck: Sometimes, a team gets a bases-loaded single off a deflected ground ball. Sometimes, that team is never the Nationals.
Key Props to Bet (Because You’re Foolish):
1. Fernando Tatis Jr. Over 1.5 Hits (-140): He’s a machine. Even if he’s hitting .200, he’ll still get 2 hits. Probably.
2. Nick Pivetta Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-170): With 6.5 Ks implied, Pivetta’s got a shot at a career-high. The Nationals’ lineup is motivated.
3. MacKenzie Gore Under 4.5 Strikeouts (-165): He’s averaging 4.1 Ks per start. This is not a typo. This is a cry for help.
The Verdict:
The Padres win 5-2. Pivetta pitches into the 7th, Tatis Jr. cracks a solo shot, and the Nationals’ offense collectively forgets how to swing. Bet the Padres -116, and if you must take a prop, go with Tatis Jr. Over 1.5 hits. For the love of all that is holy, avoid the Nationals +1.5 runs.
Final Score Prediction:
San Diego Padres 5, Washington Nationals 2
Because the Nats’ pitching staff is a one-man comedy tour. 🎤⚾
Created: July 20, 2025, 2:35 p.m. GMT