Nationals vs. Cubs Pick
Are the host Chicago Cubs going to wrap up the NLDS best-of-5 series with the Washington Nationals Wednesday afternoon? The first pitch is at 4:08 8PM EST.
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Cubs are a -159 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Nationals are a +129 underdog and the over-under has not yet been set.
The game was postponed due to rain Wednesday evening.
MLB Quick Links: Scores & Matchups | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Chicago took a 2-1 series lead Monday evening at Wrigley Field with a 2-1 victory. The season series is now tied at 5-5 and the total has gone under six times.
Tanner Roark (13-11, 4.67 ERA) will be on the mound for Washington, while Jake Arrieta (14-10, 3.53) gets the start for the Cubs. Roark has a 1.33 WHIP with 166 strikeouts over 181 1/3 innings. He allowed two earned runs on three hits with two strikeouts and one walk in only one inning of work in his final regular season appearance, an 11-8 home loss to the Pirates. Roark has a 4.26 ERA in 86 2/3 road innings. He gave up two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks over 6 1/3 innings in a win over Chicago earlier his season. Arrieta posted a 1.22 WHIP with 163 strikeouts over 168 1/3 innings during the regular season. He surrendered five runs (three earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and one walk over three innings in an 8-7 loss at the Cardinals to complete the regular season. Arrieta has a 2.90 ERA in 59 home innings. He allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and six walks over four innings in a loss to Washington earlier this year.
Monday’s game saw Anthony Rizzo register the go-ahead bloop RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning to send the Cubs to the win. Albert Almora Jr. had a pinch-hit RBI single for Chicago’s other run. Carl Edwards Jr. earned the win in relief. Wade Davis picked up his second save of the series to complete the game. Ryan Zimmerman recorded an RBI double for the Nationals. Brad Kintzler took the loss out of the bullpen. Max Scherzer carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning for Washington, while Jose Quintana gave up an unearned run over 5 2/3 innings.
Neither Roark or Arrieta finished the regular season in grand fashion, but overall the two pitchers had very strong second halves. Arrieta was one of the top pitchers in basically in 2015 when he won the NL Cy Young Award and while he isn’t as dominant nowadays, he still can put forth a top-notch performance no matter who the opponent. Roark is usually efficient and keeps Washington in the game, but rarely gets through starts unscathed. The Cubs are seemingly due for an offensive explosion game and this could be the day. They certainly would rather avoid heading back to Washington for Game 5, where Stephen Strasburg would be waiting. We’re going to pick the Cubs to end the series here.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: CHICAGO CUBS -159