Perfect Strasburg, Nats joust with Cubs
Two of the majors’ hottest hurlers lock horns in today’s Cubs-Nationals series finale. Will Jason Hammel finally uncover Stephen Strasburg’s kryptonite, though?
The combatants get underway at 4:05 p.m. ET, with handicappers giving the slight edge to Washington (40-25) and its undefeated ace. MLB-best Chicago represents a +129 underdog in the eyes of online sports book BetDSI. As for the over/under run total, that sits at 7.5.
At this rate, Strasburg could be in line to start the All-Star Game. He ranks among the National League leaders with 10 victories and 110 strikeouts. The 27-year-old’s last appearance vs. the Cubbies came on Aug. 22, 2013, when he went 8 2/3 innings and permitted four earned runs.
Hammel’s also busy making a bid for a Midsummer Classic roster spot. The veteran righty has yielded just 52 hits across 68 2/3 frames. In addition, Hammel is a remarkable 9-0 with a 3.16 ERA in 12 career outings against the Nationals.
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Dusty Baker’s gang nearly rallied to defeat Chicago (44-19) in last night’s middle contest, but Hector Rondon applied the clamps in the ninth. Expect a similarly tight battle in the rubber match.
WEDNESDAY MLB FREE PICK: CUBS +1.5
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