Aug 20, 2026
MLB picks today: Thursday's MLB best bets include Nationals vs. Rangers play [8/20/2026]
Read Article Nationals vs. Rangers prediction: Why Texas is favored to win Thursday's MLB matchup [8/20/2026]
Updated: | First published:
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Written by Jason Bevilacqua, Head of Content and Communities
Get Washington Nationals vs Texas Rangers predictions for MLB Thursday.
The Texas Rangers will take on the Washington Nationals in MLB action at Globe Life Field on Thursday, beginning at 8:05 PM ET.
Jacob deGrom (8-8, 3.95 ERA) will be the starting pitcher for the Rangers, while the Nationals are going with Andrew Alvarez (2-4, 3.72 ERA).
Dimers' advanced MLB model projects the Rangers as the most likely winner in this Nationals vs. Rangers prediction.
This article offers a closer look at Thursday's matchup, including best bets and picks.
For more, dive into Jacob deGrom's pitching projections.
Nationals vs. Rangers prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Thursday's MLB game between the Nationals and Rangers, forming part of our MLB predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model currently gives the Rangers a 63.3% chance of beating the Nationals.
According to our model, the Nationals (+1.5) have a 54.8% chance of covering the run line, while the 7.5-run over/under has a 58.5% chance of going over,.
Nationals vs. Rangers odds [8/20/2026]
We have sourced the best MLB odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
- Run Line: Nationals +1.5 (-140) / Rangers -1.5 (+138)
- Moneyline: Nationals +163, Rangers -163
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Nationals vs. Rangers picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets in this matchup. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
- Run line: Rangers -1.5 @ +138 via DraftKings
- Moneyline: Rangers @ -163 via Polymarket
- Total: Over 7.5 @ +108 via Novig
According to our MLB best bets, the top play to make on this game is Over 7.5 total runs.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Nationals vs. Rangers game-day updates and essential details
Thursday's MLB matchup between the Rangers and Nationals at Globe Life Field is scheduled to begin at 8:05 PM ET.
- Who: Washington Nationals vs. Texas Rangers
- Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026
- Time: 8:05 PM ET/5:05PM PT
- Venue: Globe Life Field
Conclusion
We predict the Rangers, with a 63.3% win probability, will likely beat the Nationals in Thursday's MLB matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
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Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.
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