Cubs vs. Nationals Prediction
Will the Nationals make it three straight against the Cubs with a win today at 4:05PM ET?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Nationals are -115 money line favorites versus the Cubs, who have odds of +105 to pull off the upset. With Jon Lester set to face Joe Ross in the pitching matchup, the over/under currently sits at 9 runs.
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Latest on Lester: Lester surrendered three runs in seven innings while spearheading a 5-3 win over the Marlins on Saturday.
He was burned for a three-run johnson off the bat of J.T. Realmuto in the first inning but settled down to keep the Marlins off the board after that. Lester gave up just four hits and one walk while striking out four batters in the game. He improves to 5-4 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.25 WHIP after 16 starts. His 9.37 K/9 is his best strikeout rate since his 2010 campaign in Boston. The veteran left-hander stands to be one of the most reliable starting pitchers in the second half of the season.
Ross hurled seven innings of one-run baseball as his team won a laugher against the Reds on Saturday. He gave up six hits and one walk, with the only damage coming on a solo homer by Patrick Kivlehan in the sixth inning. Ross struck out five batters and improved his record to 4-3 with a 5.40 ERA. He has a solid 52/12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 56 2/3 innings spread over 10 starts.
Bet Today’s Cubs vs. Nationals Game
OUR PREDICTION: The Cubs are just 6-15 in their last 21 road games, are 5-16 in their last 21 road games versus a right-handed starter, and are 0-4 in Lester’s last four starts versus a team with a winning record. The Nationals, meanwhile, have won six of Ross’ last seven home starts and are 7-3 in his last 10 outings overall. Despite the pitching matchup favoring Chicago, the Cubs are struggling and the Nationals’ price is right.
THURSDAY MLB PREDICTION: WASHINGTON NATIONALS -115