The Chicago Cubs (50-54) and Washington Nationals (47-55) wrap up their season series this weekend with a three-game set at Nationals Park. Friday’s first pitch will be at 7:05 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Cubs vs. Nationals odds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Trevor Williams is the projected starting pitcher for the Cubs. He is 4-2 with a 5.06 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 9.4 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 over 58 2/3 IP spanning 12 starts and one relief appearance.
Williams has made three starts in Juny with a 4.20 ERA – his best rate of any month this season. In his last start, he pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out 6 batters to earn his fourth win of the season. May 20, he pitched 4 2/3 innings against the Nationals, allowing 2 runs on two solo home runs.
The Nationals hadn’t named a starting pitcher by the time of publishing, so they can be expected to roll out several relief pitchers. The Washington bullpen is 22nd in MLB this season with a 4.65 aggregate ERA.
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Cubs at Nationals odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 5:05 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Cubs -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Nationals -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Cubs -1.5 (+140) | Nationals +1.5 (-165)
- Over/Under: 9 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Prediction
Nationals 5, Cubs 3
Money line (ML)
Neither team has played well in the last week-plus, both going 4-6 in their last 10 games. The Nationals at least showed some hope against the Philadelphia Phillies; they split a four-game series by winning two of the last three contests
I like the NATIONALS (-110) at home Friday. They are 27-25 this season at Nationals Park and the Cubs have been terrible on the road, going 19-33 away from Wrigley.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Washington covered the spread in six of its last 10 games, including two of the last three against Philadelphia. Although the Nationals have been sellers ahead of the MLB trade deadline by dealing SS Trea Turner, RHP Max Scherzer and OF Kyle Schwarber, the Cubs are in the same boat.
With the Nationals being at home and facing a pitcher who has struggled this month, I like Washington. Bet the NATIONALS +1.5 (-165) to cover the spread.
Over/Under (O/U)
These teams combined for 7 total runs in each of their last two meetings, so they haven’t been high-scoring affairs. The Cubs dealt away 3B Kris Bryant and SS Javier Baez Friday, after trading 1B Anthony Rizzo. The Nats still have OF Juan Soto, but neither team is hitting the ball particularly well.
Bet the UNDER 9 (-105) Friday.
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