Plus Money Picks — 2026-05-26

Backing Washington Nationals over Cleveland Guardians at +112 is still justified by the steadier path to controlling middle and late innings.

From the road perspective, Washington Nationals has the sturdier route: better plate-discipline sequences, fewer empty innings, and enough contact quality to keep pressure on throughout. Over the last five games, Washington Nationals is averaging 4.8 runs scored and 2.2 allowed, which supports this side’s floor. The listed starters are Cade Cavalli for Washington Nationals and Joey Cantillo for Cleveland Guardians, which frames the early run environment.

There is a real path for Cleveland Guardians if they set tempo in the first few frames, yet this pick still trusts Washington Nationals to own the steadier inning-to-inning shape. In that same span, Cleveland Guardians is at 1.8 scored and 4.0 allowed per game, so this is a margin read rather than a blanket fade.

I still like Pittsburgh Pirates over Chicago Cubs at +118, especially if this settles into a leverage-inning battle after the fifth.

Pittsburgh Pirates fits what this ticket needs from an away club, with multiple ways to create offense without needing one explosive swing. Over the last five games, Pittsburgh Pirates is averaging 4.4 runs scored and 2.8 allowed, which supports this side’s floor.

There is a real path for Chicago Cubs if they set tempo in the first few frames, yet this pick still trusts Pittsburgh Pirates to own the steadier inning-to-inning shape. In that same span, Chicago Cubs is at 1.8 scored and 5.8 allowed per game, so this is a margin read rather than a blanket fade.