The Cleveland Guardians and Washington Nationals open a three-game interleague series on Monday, May 5, 2025, at Nationals Park, in a contest that sees one team looking to maintain division relevance and the other trying to claw back into competitive form. The Guardians arrive with a 19-14 record and sit second in the AL Central, largely carried by timely hitting and consistency when pegged as the favorite—they’ve won 10 of 13 games in that role this season, covering the spread in an impressive 76.9% of those matchups. Conversely, the Nationals are currently 14-19 and fourth in the NL East, but they’ve shown promise in spurts, particularly at home where they hold a 9-7 record and have demonstrated the ability to score runs in bunches against quality opponents. The Guardians’ offense has been paced by emerging bats like Daniel Schneemann and consistent contributions from their lineup, but the club’s recent stretch has been marred by pitching inconsistency, as they’ve compiled a team ERA of 4.80 over their last 10 games. This volatility from the mound has kept games close and has put pressure on the bullpen, which has already logged significant innings early in the season. The Nationals, meanwhile, are led by young stars James Wood and CJ Abrams, with Wood providing power—9 home runs and 21 RBIs—and Abrams chipping in with a .280 average and steady table-setting abilities.

Offensively, the Nationals have actually held their own in recent weeks but continue to be undermined by shaky starting pitching and a bullpen that struggles to close out tight games. With neither team possessing an overwhelming pitching edge heading into this series, the matchup may come down to which offense can string together timely hits, capitalize with runners in scoring position, and avoid defensive miscues. The Guardians have been far more reliable in situations where they’re expected to win, while the Nationals have had some success as underdogs at home, covering the spread in 18 of their 35 games overall. Monday’s game could also set the tone for the series—if Cleveland’s offense can get to the Nationals’ pitching early and alleviate pressure on their own arms, they’ll be in prime position to take control. However, if the Nationals can weather the initial offensive push and get a solid outing from their starter, they could flip momentum and put Cleveland’s inconsistent pitching under stress. With playoff aspirations slowly creeping into focus for the Guardians, and the Nationals looking to stay relevant and find cohesion in a rebuilding year, this interleague matchup is more than just a mid-May series—it’s a test of discipline, execution, and who can clean up the small things across nine innings. The series opener presents Cleveland with an opportunity to capitalize on a struggling opponent, but Washington has just enough offensive firepower and home-field rhythm to make this a tightly contested affair that could go either way if the Guardians’ pitching continues to sputter.