Washington’s power dip remains a hurdle in 2025. After finishing 2024 with 135 homers, they’re already at 126 this season, still the third-fewest in MLB behind the Pirates and Padres. New additions Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell show a path to more production, but both profile as gap-to-gap hitters rather than pure sluggers. James Wood has teased big power but hasn’t carried it yet, and the pitching staff has allowed far more homers than it’s hit, staining every win with a power deficit.

Last night’s 12-hit, 0-homer showing for Washington underscored the issue: no long balls to break a tie, even with runners in scoring position hovering around league-average. The Rays’ two homers were enough to win, highlighting how much long-ball inflation still drives outcomes. Until Washington blends Wood’s upside with real power and clamps down on HRs allowed, fantasy upside will hinge on finding pop from the Wood-Bell-Lowe trio and staying optimistic about breakout performances rather than relying on consistent power from the lineup.

Casey Wilson's MLB Prop Bets for 8/26/2025 center four homer props: Aaron Judge, James Wood, Taylor Ward, and Nick Kurtz. Yankee Stadium’s wind-out setup and Gore’s four-seamer usage boost Judge’s odds, while the Nationals' Wood taps a favorable righty matchup. Ward benefits from Corbin’s lefty weakness, and Kurtz targets Morton in a park-friendly swing for the fence.

The piece stresses a disciplined, bankroll-conscious approach: avoid chasing four HRs, lean into round-robin stacking, and shop odds across FanDuel and DraftKings. It leans on pitch-mix and BVP data to sharpen edge for fantasy and betting.

James Wood is the marquee homer play tonight at +600 as Washington faces Sean Manaea of the Mets. Wood has 25 homers this season and thrives against lefties, posting a .494 slugging mark versus southpaws compared with .463 against righties, a pattern that tilts the odds in his favor tonight. Manaea’s penchant for giving up homers (1.7 HR/9) in 2024 adds upside to Wood’s giant-play potential in a high-variance short slate.

Carlos Correa closes the night as a +900 longshot sleeper after rejoining Houston and flashing a .492 slugging since the deadline, a sign he can pop one against Brandon Young of Baltimore, who carries a 5.68 ERA and the HR/9 leakage that Correa can exploit. BetMGM promos add extra juice for new players, but the core angles remain: power upside against a vulnerable pitcher and a reduced upside ceiling for the underdogs. This nine-game slate lends itself to bold plays and careful exposure management.

Bottom line: leverage Wood’s lefty-smashing profile and Correa’s late-season spark for big-rate returns, while respecting risk on a tight MLB Thursday. The bets hinge on split data, homer pace, and a contrarian payout that could deliver a solid night for fantasy and sports bettors willing to chase the upside.

Justin Verlander joined MLB’s 3,500 strikeout club, becoming the 10th pitcher to reach the milestone. He pumped a 95 mph fastball to begin the night, then the Nationals exploded for four runs in the second inning as Washington cruised to an 8-0 win at Oracle Park. The moment drew a standing ovation from about 40,000 Giants fans, who still watched Verlander depart after six strikeouts and five runs allowed on 11 hits.

Verlander’s 3,500th is tethered to a storied career that already includes multiple Cy Young awards and a place among the all-time greats; Nolan Ryan remains the Ks king, with Walter Johnson close behind and Verlander now carving out a historic chapter. For fantasy audiences, the night underscored the volatility of the Giants’ offense (three hits) against a Washington squad that piled hits and produced the bulk of the scoring by the middle innings.

With this milestone on display, fantasy managers will weigh Verlander’s durability against age and the Giants’ offensive upside in future matchups. The day’s lopsided result and Verlander’s ascent into the 3,500-strikeout club add a compelling storyline for bettors and managers tracking veteran aces and their twilight performances.

The Nationals still play, still building. A weekend in San Francisco offered a snapshot of their future: Gore showed why he’s the present-and-future ace in six stellar innings, Abrams delivered a homer off Verlander, and Wood anchored a multi-hit, run-producing day with Wood and Lile contributing in the leadoff and middle order. Brady House and Daylen Lile added important knocks, underscoring a growing core that could turn Washington into a competitive threat next season. With a month and a half left, the focus is on confidence, habits, and proving they can contend, even if the season’s destination remains distant.