MLB matchup analysis
Nationals vs Tigers Prediction, Odds and Model Pick
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at Comerica Park · 6:40 PM ET
Leo decision: Pass on Nationals vs Tigers
The case for Detroit Tigers
The case for Washington Nationals
Why it is not official
Why the setup score is what it is
Why the price is what it is
Read the full model output
This is a bullpen game -- no confirmed traditional starter, so Leo does not publish an official pick here.
Final result
Nationals 3, Tigers 1
How the analysis held up
Washington Nationals won. Leo's model favored the other side.
Leo's two internal reads disagreed pregame by 43.6 points — the team-strength model favored Detroit Tigers, the run-projection model favored Washington Nationals. The run-projection model had the winner here.
Drew Anderson (Detroit Tigers) was Leo's favored starter by pitcher score, but Riley Cornelio actually pitched better tonight: 2.2 IP, 0 ER (0.00 ERA) against 6.0 IP, 3 ER (4.50 ERA). The edge did not show up in this game.
The Washington Nationals bullpen was flagged as elevated risk pregame (High risk). In relief it actually allowed 1 earned run over 6.1 innings (1.42 ERA) — the risk read did not show up on the scoreboard tonight.
The Detroit Tigers bullpen was not flagged pregame, but it had a night worth noting: 0 earned runs allowed over 3.0 relief innings (0.00 ERA) — quietly better than the pregame read implied.
Detroit Tigers scored 1, 2.9 fewer than the 3.9 pregame projection.
Likely driver: the opposing starter (0.00 ERA) was sharp when the read expected an edge the other way, and Detroit Tigers's offense scored 2.9 fewer runs than projected.
Game information
| Matchup | Washington Nationals at Detroit Tigers |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, September 22, 2026 |
| First pitch | 6:40 PM ET |
| Venue | Comerica Park |
| Starting pitchers | Riley Cornelio vs Drew Anderson |
| Weather | Game-time forecast: 59°F, 0% precipitation chance, 4 mph wind from NE. |
Starting pitcher matchup
Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →| Metric | Nationals | Tigers |
|---|---|---|
| Pitching plan | Opener / bullpen game | Traditional starter |
| Expected innings | 2⅔ | 4⅔ |
| Throws | R | R |
| Leo pitcher score (higher is better) | 52 | 67 |
| ERA (lower is better) | 3.89 | 3.67 |
| WHIP (lower is better) | 1.53 | 1.27 |
| K/9 (higher is better) | 9.9 | 9.5 |
| K-BB% (higher is better) | 6.5% | 15.6% |
| K% (higher is better) | 24.8% | 25.0% |
| BB% (lower is better) | 18.3% | 9.4% |
| BB/9 (lower is better) | 7.3 | 3.6 |
| HR/9 (lower is better) | 0.5 | 1.3 |
| Ground-ball rate | 35.5% | 52.8% |
| Fly-ball rate | 64.5% | 47.2% |
Pitching plan edge: Leo gives Drew Anderson the edge over the Washington Nationals pitching plan (13 points on Leo's pitcher score). Riley Cornelio is projected for only 2⅔ innings, with the Washington Nationals bullpen covering the rest -- this compares Drew Anderson's own line against the Washington Nationals blended starting-pitcher-and-bullpen quality, not two starters directly.
Blended read: For the Washington Nationals, the bullpen is projected to throw more of the game than Riley Cornelio (about 2⅔ innings for the starter), so Leo grades that side on a whole-game effective ERA of 4.86 rather than Riley Cornelio's own 3.89. Whole-game, that is 3.37 for the Detroit Tigers against 4.86 on the other side, so the blended read leans Detroit Tigers.
How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table.
Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →
Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.
Recent form
Full Stats page →Both sides arrive in similar form. Nationals are 6-4 in their last 10 and averaging 4.3 runs per game over the last 15 days; Tigers are 6-4 in their last 10 and averaging 5.6 runs per game over the last 15 days. On the season Tigers carry the better run differential per game (+0.46 against +0.04).
| Metric | Nationals | Tigers |
|---|---|---|
| Last 10 | 6-4 | 6-4 |
| Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home) | 3-7 on the road | 7-3 at home |
| OPS, last 15 days | 0.649 | 0.825 |
| wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read) | 0.284 | 0.363 |
| Runs per game, last 15 days | 4.3 | 5.6 |
| K% last 15 days (lower is better) | 22.3% | 21.5% |
Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.
30-day offense
Full offense tool →| Last 30 days | Nationals | Tigers |
|---|---|---|
| OPS | 0.696 (-0.049 vs szn) | 0.707 (-0.012 vs szn) |
| Runs per game | 4.56 (-0.495 vs szn) | 4.38 (-0.067 vs szn) |
| wOBA (model offense input) | 0.306 (-0.022 vs szn) | 0.314 |
| K% (lower is better) | 22.3% | 24.3% (+1.5% vs szn) |
Over the last 30 days the Tigers have been the better offense, 0.314 wOBA to 0.306. Tigers are striking out at 24.3% over the window — something the opposing starter can lean on.
Season profile
Full Stats page →| Metric | Nationals | Tigers |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 73-84 | 74-83 |
| Run differential / game (team quality) | +0.04 | +0.46 |
| Runs scored / game (offense, season) | 5.08 | 4.47 |
| Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better) | 5.04 | 4.01 |
| Season OPS | 0.746 | 0.720 |
| K% season (lower is better) | 21.8% | 22.8% |
| OPS vs opposing hand (season) | 0.733 | 0.727 |
Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.
The Map
Full interactive map →Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Nationals and Tigers are highlighted.
Bullpen matchup
Full Bullpen Fatigue Index →Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.
| Metric | Nationals | Tigers |
|---|---|---|
| Fatigue | 8.3/10, High risk | 7.3/10, Tired |
| Efficiency | 4.6/10, Average | 6.1/10, Effective |
| Combined risk | 8.5/10, High risk | 6.8/10, Tired |
| Relief innings, last 7 days | 28.7 | 32.3 |
| Back-to-back arms | 6 | 4 |
| 7-day ERA | 4.08 | 2.78 |
| 7-day WHIP | 1.64 | 1.14 |
Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.
Run total projection
Full Totals Projections →The model projects 0.7 runs below the market total. A research lean still requires a setup rating of at least 7.0/10. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.
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