The red-hot Chicago Cubs will go for their sixth consecutive win as they play host to the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field. This NL showdown starts at 2:20 p.m. ET and you can watch it on WLS and MASN.
Washington Nationals at Chicago Cubs Odds
The Nationals are 70-57 SU and are 70-56 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 4.0 units for moneyline gamblers, despite having gained 10.8 units ATS. Washington’s covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven. The Cubs, on the other hand, are 69-58 SU and 60-66 ATS. They’ve lost 2.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.9 units ATS. Chicago has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Neither team has positioned itself as an obvious over/under play this season. Chicago games have an over/under record of 58-59-9 in 2019. The Nationals have an over/under record of 59-61-6.
Anibal Sanchez is getting the nod for the Nationals. The right-handed Sanchez (7-6, 3.99 ERA) has recorded 104 strikeouts in 121.2 innings so far. He has yet to face the Cubs this year and only made one start against them in 2018 (1-0, 0.00 ERA and six strikeouts over six innings).
The Cubs are countering with Jon Lester (10-8, 4.23 ERA). Lester has 132 strikeouts and 37 walks, along with a 1.42 WHIP. Lester is 0-1 with three strikeouts and a 10.38 ERA in one start against Washington this year.
As a unit, Chicago’s pitching staff has given up 4.4 runs per game overall in 2019. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.00, a WHIP of 1.25 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.8. The bullpen has a 4.16 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 8.9 K/9.
Chicago’s hitters have produced 4.9 runs per outing, including 4.3 per game over its last 10 games and 5.4 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .242/.346/.465 over its last five games and is 5-0 SU during that span.
The Cubs’ offense has been led by shortstop Javier Baez and third baseman Kris Bryant. Baez is hitting .283/.314/.535 with 28 home runs, 82 RBIs, 84 runs and 10 stolen bases, and Bryant is hitting .286 with 26 homers, 63 RBIs and 91 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Washington’s pitching staff allowed 4.6 runs per game and its starters own a 3.53 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.47 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 6.01, along with a WHIP of 1.21 and a K/9 of 9.05.
The Nationals offense has slashed .263/.342/.453 on its way to 5.3 runs scored per game in 2019, including 9.1 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 9.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Washington’s hitters have been paced by third baseman Anthony Rendon and right fielder Adam Eaton. Rendon is slashing .324/.402/.613 with 28 home runs, 101 RBIs and 91 runs scored, while Eaton is slashing .291/.377/.436 with 11 homers, 40 RBIs, 87 runs and 13 stolen bases.
The Nationals have lost 4.5 units and are 15-15 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in 13 of those games, compared to 14 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Cubs have netted 4.2 units and are 49-49 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 46 of those games, compared to 45 which went under the total.
Nationals vs. Cubs MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Nationals, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in three of Chicago’s last seven games.
- The Nationals have hit 26 home runs in their last 10 games, including 15 over their last five.
- The Nationals have a total OPS of .795 this season and an OPS of .820 when facing left-handed pitchers. The Cubs’ OPS sits at .785 overall and .738 against southpaws.
- Washington has posted 33.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 36.0 over its last five.
- The Nationals have won four of their last five games SU.
