- The Washington Nationals won 71 games for the second year in a row.
- I predict Dylan Crews will win NL Rookie of the Year in 2025.
In 2024, the Washington Nationals went 71-91 for the second consecutive season to finish fourth in the NL East. It marked the team’s highest division finish since winning the 2019 World Series.
The Nationals hope to take the next step in their rebuild, which might prove difficult in the NL East.
Here’s a look at the latest MLB betting lines and my prediction for the Nationals for 2025:
Nationals MLB Odds 2025
Win Total: 70.5
NL East: +10000
NL Pennant: +10000
World Series: +20000
The Nationals’ MLB odds still view them as a long shot this season. They are 200/1 to win the World Series after being 250/1 last spring. Washington’s win total has increased by four games since last season.
For comparison, check out this breakdown of Washington’s preseason odds in recent years:
| Year | Win Total | NL East | NL Pennant | World Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 66.5 | +10000 | +12500 | +25000 |
| 2023 | 59.5 | +25000 | +25000 | +50000 |
| 2022 | 70.5 | +4000 | +8000 | +10000 |
| 2021 | 84.5 | +650 | +1800 | +3000 |
Nationals Depth Chart 2025
According to RosterResource, the Nationals will have a similar depth chart in 2025 after a quiet offseason.
Their major offensive upgrade came when they traded for first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. Michael Soroka was signed to add rotation depth.
Projected lineup
| Player | Position | Hand | 2024 wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| CJ Abrams | SS | L | 107 |
| Dylan Crews | RF | R | 80 |
| James Wood | LF | L | 120 |
| Nathaniel Lowe | 1B | L | 121 |
| Josh Bell | DH | S | 101 |
| Luis GarcÃa Jr | 2B | L | 111 |
| Keibert Ruiz | C | S | 71 |
| José Tena | 3B | L | 83 |
| Jacob Young | CF | R | 85 |
Projected rotation
| Player | Hand | 2024 ERA | 2024 IP |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacKenzie Gore | LHP | 3.90 | 166.1 |
| Jake Irvin | RHP | 4.41 | 187.2 |
| Mitchell Parker | LHP | 4.29 | 151 |
| Trevor Williams | RHP | 2.03 | 66.2 |
| Michael Soroka | RHP | 4.74 | 79.2 |
Nationals Player to Watch in 2025
With half of a season under his belt, outfielder James Wood is poised to take the next step for the Nationals in 2025.
Wood played 79 games as a rookie in 2024, posting an OPS+ of 122 while slashing .264/.354/.427. He finished with 41 RBIs, nine home runs, and 14 stolen bases.
Most preseason projections expect Wood to be Washington’s best hitter, with ZiPS (via FanGraphs) projecting a 125 wRC+. This could be a big season for Wood.
Nationals Betting Prediction for 2025
Based on the updated MLB odds market, my betting prediction for the Nationals is that Dylan Crews will win NL Rookie of the Year (+350) in 2025.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki enters as the betting favorite (+200), a similar story to last year’s market when Yoshinobu Yamamoto began as the front-runner.
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes eventually burst on the scene to win the award, but San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill was a worthy candidate.
I expect Crews to eventually become the betting favorite, especially if the Dodgers are careful with Sasaki’s workload. The Nationals will give Crews plenty of playing time as part of their youth movement.
OOPSY, a projection system at FanGraphs, forecasts 136 games for Crews. I like his chances of making the most significant statistical impact among all NL rookies with that level of playing time.
Prediction: Dylan Crews to Win NL Rookie of the Year (+350)
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