The Detroit Tigers go for a second straight win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night at Comerica Park. The pitching matchup tilts toward the home side. Right-hander Drew Anderson takes the ball for Detroit against Nationals rookie left-hander Jackson Kent. Detroit sits at -154 on the moneyline, and the total is 8. Our headline play leans on how the market has priced the margin in this game. A second angle comes from where the total has traveled since it opened.
Last Updated: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Washington Nationals vs. Detroit Tigers — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan |
| When | Tuesday, September 22, 2026 — 6:40 PM ET |
| TV | Detroit SportsNet, Nationals.TV |
Washington Nationals vs. Detroit Tigers Betting Preview
Anderson brings a 5-6 record, a 3.62 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP into his start. He is coming off one of his best outings of the season. On September 15 at Toronto, he held the Blue Jays scoreless over five innings on two hits in a 10-1 Detroit win.
Kent, by contrast, is still finding his footing. The 23-year-old made his MLB debut on August 12 and is 1-4 with a 6.40 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. He has 27 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings. His last start came against Philadelphia, where he allowed three earned runs on four hits over five innings. Before that, he lasted just three innings at San Diego and gave up five earned runs.
Detroit took Monday’s opener 9-2. The Tigers hit three home runs behind River Ryan’s debut. Javier Báez added a solo shot, Ben Malgeri hit a three-run homer and Spencer Torkelson launched his 25th of the season. Ryan threw three scoreless innings, and Keider Montero followed with four more. Meanwhile, Nationals starter DJ Herz allowed four runs over four innings. It was his first appearance in nearly two years after Tommy John surgery.
The Tigers are 74-83, third in the AL Central and 7.5 games behind Cleveland. They are 6-4 over their last 10 games. Washington is 73-84 and fourth in the NL East. For more, see our preview of the series opener.
Washington Nationals vs. Detroit Tigers Odds
| Run Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationals | +1.5 (-165) | +129 | U 8 (+100) |
| Tigers | -1.5 (+140) | -154 | O 8 (-120) |
Odds accurate as of September 22, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest MLB Odds – Futures – Props
Washington Nationals vs. Detroit Tigers — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Nationals | 67% | 33% | Tigers |
See the latest MLB Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Nationals vs. Tigers Prediction — Does the Market Trust Detroit to Pull Away?
The starting pitching gap is the foundation of this read. Anderson’s 1.29 WHIP against Kent’s 1.76 WHIP tells the story of base traffic. Kent has put a lot of runners on in his first taste of the majors. He now faces a lineup that just hit three home runs. He also has not gone past five innings in either of his last two starts. That likely means another long night for the Washington bullpen, which already covered four innings on Monday.
The market adds a second layer. Roughly two-thirds of run line bets are on Washington with the extra run and a half. Yet the run line has moved the other way. Detroit’s -1.5 price shortened from +150 at the open to +140, and the Nationals’ +1.5 went from -175 to -165. A move against the ticket majority usually points to bigger money on the less popular side, which here is Detroit winning by two or more. At +140, the break-even rate is about 41.7%.
Still, there is a real case against it. A home favorite laying 1.5 runs has a structural problem. If Detroit leads after the top of the ninth, it never bats again, and walk-off wins often land by exactly one run. The moneyline also sends a mixed signal. It drifted from Detroit -165 to -154 even though 83% of moneyline bets are on the Tigers. However, the run line market speaks directly to margin, and it favors Detroit.
The Pick: Tigers Run Line -1.5 (+140)
Nationals vs. Tigers Prediction — Has the Total Already Tipped Its Hand?
The total opened at 8.5 with the under at -115. It now sits at 8, with the under at +100. That half-run drop is meaningful, because early money pushed the number through a common landing spot. Anderson’s recent form supports it. He posted five scoreless innings in his last start. Detroit’s bullpen is also well rested. Ryan and Montero covered seven innings on Monday, which left only two innings for the rest of the relief corps.
On the other hand, Kent’s 6.40 ERA and 1.76 WHIP are fuel for the over. Detroit scored nine runs on Monday, and a similar outburst would clear 8 on its own. The over is also juiced to -120, which shows some buyback at the new number. The under fits neatly with the first pick, though. A 5-2 or 6-1 Detroit win covers the run line and stays below the total.
The Pick: Under 8 (+100)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
No third angle stands apart from the two plays above, so there is no bonus pick here. Instead, watch Kent’s pitch count early. If he runs deep counts, Washington’s bullpen enters early for a second straight night. That helps Detroit build a multi-run lead, but it could also push the total.
Anderson’s length matters just as much. Five solid innings lets Detroit hand a lead to a rested bullpen. In contrast, an early exit keeps Washington live with the extra run and a half.
Here is a summary of our picks for Nationals vs. Tigers:
- Tigers Run Line -1.5 (+140)
- Under 8 (+100)
MLB Nationals vs. Tigers FAQ: Tuesday September 22, 2026
What time does the Nationals vs. Tigers game start?
The Nationals vs. Tigers game starts at 6:40 PM ET on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. It is the second game of a three-game interleague series at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won Monday’s opener 9-2, and the series wraps up with a Wednesday afternoon game at the same ballpark.
What channel is the Nationals vs. Tigers game on?
The Nationals vs. Tigers game airs on Detroit SportsNet for Tigers fans and on Nationals.TV for Washington fans. Both are local broadcasts, so viewers inside each team’s home market should check those channels first. First pitch from Comerica Park is scheduled for 6:40 PM ET on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
Who is pitching for the Nationals and Tigers tonight?
Right-hander Drew Anderson (5-6, 3.62 ERA) starts for the Tigers, and rookie left-hander Jackson Kent (1-4, 6.40 ERA) starts for the Nationals. Anderson threw five scoreless innings at Toronto in his last outing. Kent allowed three earned runs over five innings against Philadelphia in his most recent start.
Who won the last meeting between the Nationals and Tigers?
The Tigers won the last meeting, beating the Nationals 9-2 on Monday, September 21, 2026, at Comerica Park. Detroit hit three home runs, from Javier Báez, Ben Malgeri and Spencer Torkelson. River Ryan and Keider Montero combined for seven scoreless innings before Washington scored twice in the eighth.
How many games are left in the Nationals-Tigers series?
One game remains after Tuesday night in the three-game Nationals-Tigers series. The finale is set for Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 1:10 PM ET at Comerica Park. Detroit leads the series 1-0 after winning Monday’s opener 9-2. The Tigers then host the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend to close out their regular season.