The Washington Nationals host the Chicago Cubs on August 12, 2026. First pitch from Nationals Park is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on NATS.
The Cubs are favored by -159 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Nationals are +148 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 9.5 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: Pete Crow-Armstrong Over 1.5 TB (-114), Over 2.5 HRR (+110), 1+ Double (+333), and Cubs ML (-159)
My Cubs vs Nationals best bets are on these Pete Crow-Armstrong props and Chicago to win outright. 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 -101 | 9.5 -104o / -116u | -159 |
| Nationals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -120 | 9.5 -104o / -116u | +148 |
- Cubs vs Nationals moneyline: Cubs -159, Nationals +148
- Cubs vs Nationals over/under: 9.5 (-104o / -116u)
- Cubs vs Nationals spread: Cubs -1.5 (-101), Nationals +1.5 (-120)
Cubs vs Nationals Probable Pitchers
| David Peterson (LHP, CHC) | Stat | Miles Mikolas (RHP, WSH) |
|---|---|---|
| 6-7 | W-L | 3-9 |
| 1.0 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | -0.9 |
| 5.35 / 5.00 | ERA / xERA | 5.89 / 5.47 |
| 4.08 / 4.18 | FIP / xFIP | 5.73 / 4.72 |
| 9.5% | K-BB% | 6.8% |
| 49.0% | GB% | 44.2% |
| .317 | BABIP | .289 |
| 89 | Stuff+ | 90 |
| 101 | Location+ | 108 |
Cubs vs Nationals MLB Betting Preview, Prediction
Right-hander Miles Mikolas will take the mound for the Nationals, while lefty David Peterson will make the start for the visiting Cubs.
In 24 appearances, Mikolas has recorded an abysmal 5.89 ERA and surrendered 74 earned runs across his 113 innings.
Given Mikolas’ struggles, I expect this to be a prime spot to target Cubs’ slugger Pete Crow-Armstrong as a beneficiary.
In 11 career at-bats versus Mikolas, Crow-Armstrong has recorded eight hits, including a double, five home runs, and six RBIs.
Mikolas relies heavily on a pitch-to-contact mix that features a sinker, four-seamer, slider, and curveball, all of which do not have overpowering velocity.
He also puts himself in a precarious position. Mikolas doesn't have elite velocity, and Crow-Armstrong, who has tremendous pull-power, is set up for a big day.
Crow-Armstrong’s .727 AVG with a near-50% homer rate across his previous encounters versus Mikolas is appalling and easily ranks amongst the top head-to-head splits that a batter has over a pitcher.
Along with what I believe will be dominance at the plate from Crow-Armstrong, I will also be looking to back the Cubs on their moneyline.
Picks:
- Pete Crow-Armstrong Over 1.5 Total Bases
- Pete Crow-Armstrong Over 2.5 HRR
- Pete Crow-Armstrong 1+ Double
- Cubs Moneyline
