Chicago Cubs vs
Washington NationalsPredictions & Preview

Washington Nationals Poised to Take Advantage of Struggling Pitcher in Matchup Against Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs will play the last game of a three-game series on the road against the Washington Nationals on Thursday at Nationals Park. Chicago, currently leading the NL Central by 5 games, defeated Washington 8-3 in the series opener. The Cubs have won three straight and seven of the last eight games. Washington, 9 ½ games behind first place in the NL East, has lost two straight after a four-game winning streak. Chicago will be without seven pitchers and catcher Miguel Amaya, while Washington will be missing five pitchers and position players DeJong, Crews, and Young. The Cubs are the betting favorite in this matchup, with Drew Pomeranz starting for Chicago and Jake Irvin for the Nationals. For more insights and predictions on this game, check out the detailed analysis provided.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Cubs -147 | Nationals +133
• Spread: Cubs -1.5 (+105) | Nationals +1.5 (-125)
• Total: Over/Under 9.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Chicago will win straight-up is 60%.

Chicago vs Washington Stats

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have been performing exceptionally well offensively this season, ranking in the top four in four different hitting categories. They are second in runs scored and batting average, third in on-base percentage, and fourth in slugging percentage. Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the team in home runs, while Seiya Suzuki leads in RBI. Chicago has a total of 211 extra base hits in 60 games. On the mound, the Cubs rank in the middle of the pack in ERA, Quality Starts, WHIP, and batting average against. Jameson Taillon leads in wins, Ben Brown in strikeouts, and Matthew Boyd in ERA for starters. Chicago has a power ranking of 2, with the best offense in the league, a decent defense, and a 38-23 record for the season. Their next game will have Colin Rea as the starting pitcher.

Washington Nationals Analysis

The Washington Nationals are ranked 12th in offense, scoring an average of 4.49 runs per game. They have 268 runs scored and a slugging percentage of .395. James Wood leads the team in several offensive categories, including batting average, home runs, and RBI. Josh Bell and Nathaniel Lowe are also contributors to the team's offense. On the mound, Washington has a 5.07 ERA and is 17th in Quality Starts. Jorge Lopez leads the team in wins, while MacKenzie Gore leads in strikeouts and ERA for starters. The Nationals have a power ranking of 14 and are 29-32 overall. In their last 3 matchups, Chicago went 1-2 against Washington. Jake Irvin will be pitching for the Nationals on Thursday, with a record of 5-1 and a 3.93 ERA this season.

Washington Nationals Set to Face Chicago Cubs in Favorable Matchup with Struggling Pitcher

The Washington Nationals have emerged victorious in 10 of their last 15 games, propelling them to third place in the National League Central despite trailing the division leader by 9 ½ games. Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs have demonstrated strong offensive capabilities this season, but their starting pitcher, Colin Rea, has struggled in his past two outings. This sets up a favorable matchup for the Nationals, who will be playing at home. Rea has given up a concerning 17 hits and 12 runs in just 10.2 innings over his last two starts. On the other hand, Washington starter Jake Irvin has shown consistency with four solid outings prior to his recent struggles. Irvin boasts a 3.93 ERA (63rd in baseball) and a 1.17 WHIP (40th), highlighted by an impressive shutout performance against San Francisco on May 24.

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