The Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals will meet on May 13, 2025, at Truist Park in a divisional matchup between two teams still trying to establish consistency as the season rounds the quarter mark, with the Braves coming in at 19-20 and the Nationals just behind them at 17-23 in the National League East standings. Atlanta enters the game slightly favored, but their 17-23 ATS record indicates they’ve had trouble covering spreads even when winning, and their overall inconsistency has largely stemmed from a lineup that ranks just 21st in total runs scored, despite the presence of power hitters like Matt Olson and Austin Riley. The Braves have particularly struggled at home in recent weeks, with six of their last seven games at Truist Park going under the total, a reflection of both strong pitching performances and offensive letdowns that have limited their scoring potential. Spencer Schwellenbach is scheduled to start for Atlanta, bringing a 1-3 record and 3.61 ERA into the game, and while he’s shown solid command and has kept games close, he’s received little run support and will once again need the Braves’ bats to wake up in order to turn a strong start into a win. On the other side, the Nationals continue to play scrappy, if unspectacular, baseball, managing a 5-5 ATS record over their last 10 games while navigating inconsistency in both their lineup and pitching staff, and their biggest challenge has been stabilizing a rotation that carries a 4.50 team ERA into this contest.

Michael Soroka is expected to take the mound for Washington, aiming to provide a quality outing after struggling in recent starts, and his ability to work through the Braves’ middle of the order will be key to keeping the game competitive into the later innings. Offensively, the Nationals average just over four runs per game and lean heavily on contributions from young standouts like James Wood and veteran presence Keibert Ruiz, who have delivered in stretches but have yet to consistently carry the offense against quality pitching. Defensively, the Nationals have been adequate but not elite, and their margin for error remains slim against a Braves team that, while currently underperforming, has the offensive firepower to erupt if given second chances. Given both teams’ tendency to play in low-scoring affairs—particularly the Braves at home—and their respective struggles with offensive timing, this game has the feel of another tightly contested battle where early execution and pitching efficiency will dictate the outcome. The Nationals have an opportunity to capitalize on Atlanta’s recent inconsistencies, but unless their offense produces early and avoids chasing pitches from Schwellenbach, they may once again find themselves playing from behind against a team still capable of beating anyone on the right night. If Atlanta can get timely hits from Olson, Riley, or Michael Harris II and Schwellenbach gives them length, they’re in strong position to even their record and keep pace in the division, but if the Nationals can strike early and force Atlanta into bullpen-heavy innings, the door is open for an upset and a much-needed road win.