The Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals will face off in a National League matchup on Monday in what should be a competitive ball game at Wrigley Field.
The Chicago Cubs (43-64) will host the Washington Nationals (36-74) in this contest. Neither team is in playoff contention, and both have struggled in 2022. With that being said, this could end up being an exciting game.
Teams’ Trade Deadline
The Cubs have played reasonably well as of late. After not trading Willson Contreras or Ian Happ ahead of the trade deadline, the clubhouse received a bit of an extra boost. Chicago’s players were happy to see both Happ and Contreras remain on the roster.
The exact opposite can be said for Washington. The Nationals dealt stars such as Juan Soto and Josh Bell away and have labored since the deadline.
Nationals Losing Players
Losing two of your best players in one trade is not something that is going to boost morale. They will look to upset the MLB betting odds in this contest.
The first pitch is scheduled for 8:05 PM EST on Monday, August 8th, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL. Let’s take a look at all the information and try to come up with the best MLB picks today.
Nationals vs. Cubs Stats
Nationals Stats
The Nationals haven’t taken care of business as of late. They continue to struggle overall and will likely find themselves in the running for the worst record in baseball this year.
They understand the strategy. This is a team in the midst of a rebuild, without question. But Chicago hasn’t exactly set the league on fire either… so the Nationals could make for a decent underdog pick.
Nationals’ Offense
The Nationals’ offense has been better than their pitching, but it is still subpar. Washington ranks 12th in batting average, 13th in OBP, 26th in slugging percentage, and 25th in runs scored.
Meanwhile, Washington’s pitching is dead last in team ERA and home runs allowed, and they are 28th in WHIP and 29th in batting average against. Between underperformance and injuries, this is one of MLB’s worst pitching staffs.
Who Is Starting for the Nationals?
The Nationals will send Anibal Sanchez (0-4, 7.65) to the mound for this Monday affair. Sanchez has been inefficient in 2022. But he is a veteran presence capable of turning in a decent start on occasion.
Cubs Stats
The Cubs haven’t played a terrible brand of baseball as of late. In fact, they have even been fun to watch at times. But that doesn’t change their overall tough 2022 campaign.
Cubs’ Offense
The Cubs’ offense produced average numbers in 2022. They are 15th in batting average, 12th in OBP, 15th in slugging percentage, and 21st in runs scored.
But the pitching has let them down in a major way. Chicago is 25th in team ERA, 25th in WHIP, 27th in homers allowed, and 22nd in batting average against. Their pitching ranks are not as bad as the Nationals.
Who Is Starting for the Cubs?
Keegan Thompson (8-5, 3.48) has been a bright spot in the rotation and will start Monday’s game. Thompson will look to help the Cubs uphold the spread at home.
Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs Betting Trends
- Washington owns a league-worst 45-65 record against the run line this season.
- The Cubs are 54-53 against the run line this year.
- The Nationals are 25-27 against the run line on the road so far during the 2022 campaign.
- Chicago is 25-30 against the run line when playing at home.
- Washington is 41-52 against the run line as an underdog.
- The Cubs are 9-20 as a favorite.
Nationals vs. Cubs Betting Prediction and Pick
This might end up being a competitive ball game. But based on the numbers, Chicago holds both pitching and hitting advantage. Plus, Chicago has a home-field advantage as well.
The Washington Nationals have also been the worst team against the run line this year. So they don’t exactly hold much-upset potential. Trusting them is a difficult thing to do right now.
Who to Bet On?
Washington could pull off the upset. But I like the Cub
s’ odds of covering the run line on Monday to kick off this series.
They should be able to take care of business in front of the home faithful at Wrigley Field. Going by the Nationals vs. Cubs betting stats, the best bet is to take the Chicago Cubs -1.5.
MLB Pick: Cubs -1.5 (+115)
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