The Washington Nationals host the Chicago Cubs on August 11, 2026. First pitch from Nationals Park is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on MARQ.
The Cubs are favored by -163 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Nationals are +142 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 9 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Cubs vs Nationals prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Cubs vs Nationals Prediction
- Cubs vs Nationals Pick: Under 9
My Cubs vs Nationals best bet is on game totals. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Cubs vs Nationals Odds
| Cubs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -117 | 9 -105o / -113u | -163 |
| Nationals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -102 | 9 -105o / -113u | +142 |
- Cubs vs Nationals moneyline: Cubs -163, Nationals +142
- Cubs vs Nationals over/under: 9 (-105o / -113u)
- Cubs vs Nationals spread: Cubs -1.5 (-102), Nationals +1.5 (-117)
Cubs vs Nationals Probable Pitchers
| LHP Shota Imanaga (CHC) | Stat | RHP Jake Irvin (WAS) |
|---|---|---|
| 8-9 | W-L | 2-5 |
| 1.5 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.5 |
| 3.60 / 3.73 | ERA / xERA | 5.37 / 5.39 |
| 4.38 / 3.84 | FIP / xFIP | 4.74 / 4.50 |
| 18.0% | K-BB% | 13.4% |
| 36.7% | GB% | 37.2% |
| .259 | BABIP | .268 |
| 93 | Stuff+ | 98 |
| 110 | Location+ | 99 |
Cubs vs Nationals MLB Betting Preview, Analysis
I bet the Under 9 in this Cubs–Nationals matchup at -105, and while I like it down to -120, the value has largely evaporated as the market has adjusted. There isn't a ton of room left on this line, but I still project the fair total closer to 8.4.
Both teams had an off day yesterday, meaning both bullpens come into this game fully rested. Washington is expected to start Jake Irvin according to beat writers. On the other side, whenever Shota Imanaga takes the mound, you have to monitor the weather. Shota’s output virtually tracks wind direction: when the wind blows out, overs hit and he gets touched up; when it's blowing in or neutral, he pitches great.
Imanaga has consistently outperformed standard projections this year. While models still tag him with an ERA projection north of 4.00, his expected indicators sit around 3.70, which is where I align him.
I’m certainly not high on Jake Irvin or Washington's bullpen, but the Nationals' lineup simply isn't the same group it was earlier in the season. Without James Wood — who is worth 0.3 to 0.4 runs to their team total — Washington downgrades from an above-average offense to below-average on paper. Throw in the departures of Curtis Mead and Luis García Jr., and their post-trade deadline production is bound to cool off.
Pick: Under 9 (-120 or better)
