Cardinals vs Nationals: The Best Bet to Make for Wednesday’s MLB Slate

This afternoon at Nationals Park, the Washington Nationals are the play on the moneyline against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals in the series finale. Despite an early-season 4-7 record, Washington’s bats are scorching hot—they currently sit with the third-highest batting average in MLB at .277. After blowing last night’s game in extra innings’ it’s only right we go back to the Nats on Wednesday afternoon. The Cardinals come in at 6-5, but the Nationals’ offense is clicking at a level that makes them dangerous at home, especially in a 4:05 p.m. getaway-day tilt against a young Cardinals starter.

The revenge factor adds serious juice. Miles Mikolas, the veteran right-hander now in his first full season with Washington after seven years in St. Louis, toes the rubber against his old club for the first time. Mikolas knows the Cardinals’ lineup inside and out. Even though his 2026 numbers look rough (0-2, 14.46 ERA in two starts), it’s a tiny sample of just 9.1 innings. The 37-year-old is a proven innings-eater who thrives on familiarity, and this matchup screams added motivation for the veteran. He’s going to attack the zone early and limit damage, giving the Nats’ red-hot lineup a chance to feast.

The Nationals’ lineup is the real story. Washington is raking with gap power and contact from youngsters like CJ Abrams, James Wood, Brady House, and emerging pieces like Joey Wiemer and Luis Garcia. They’re third in the league in hits and runs scored per game early on, and Nationals Park’s dimensions reward their aggressive, line-drive approach. After splitting the first two games of the series (including a tough extra-inning loss Tuesday), the Nats are locked in for a bounce-back. They’ve already shown they can put up crooked numbers when the bats wake up, and facing Michael McGreevy (0-1, 2.53 ERA but limited big-league experience) is a winnable spot. McGreevy has looked solid, but he’s unproven against a patient, contact-heavy offense that’s already third in OBP.

Additional edges tilt toward Washington. It’s a day game after a night contest, which often favors the home team with fresher arms and better sleep. The Nationals’ bullpen has been serviceable in limiting late damage, and the home crowd will be loud for Mikolas’ revenge narrative. St. Louis has been streaky on the road, and a letdown spot after winning the series opener is certainly possible.

At even-money-plus pricing, the moneyline offers terrific value on a Nationals club that’s hitting the heck out of the baseball and playing with extra purpose. Expect Mikolas to settle in, the lineup to keep pounding, and Washington to walk away with a satisfying 5-3 or 6-4 victory. Bet the Nats on the moneyline this afternoon—I’ll meet you at the cash counter when they come through for us.