Nationals vs. Cubs MLB Odds, Pick & Preview: Why You Should Bet Chicago on the Moneyline at Home (Monday, August 8)
Quinn Harris/Getty Images. Pictured: Nico Hoerner #2 of the Chicago Cubs.
- After trading away outfielder Juan Soto, the Washington Nationals have subsequently lost five games in a row.
- Does Monday's contest against the Chicago Cubs bode more favorably?
- MLB betting analyst Nick Shlain previews today's MLB matchup, including updated odds, picks and predictions for Nationals vs. Cubs at 8:05 p.m. ET.
Nationals vs. Cubs Odds
| Nationals Odds | +165 |
| Cubs Odds | -195 |
| Over/Under | 8 (+100 / -120) |
| Time | 8:05 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here. | |
The Cubs and Nationals have each won the World Series in the last 10 years, but neither of these clubs will even sniff the postseason this year. Chicago is in last place in the National League Central at 43-64, and the Nationals have the worst record in all of baseball at 36-74.
The Nationals, as you may have heard, traded superstar outfielder Juan Soto at the trade deadline and have lost five games in a row. The Cubs held onto star catcher Wilson Contreras at the trade deadline, but they've lost seven of their last 10 games.
One of these teams has to win tonight, but who will ultimately get the job done?
Washington Nationals
Keegan Thompson has a 3.48 ERA and 4.83 xFIP in 14 starts for the Cubs this season. Two starts ago against Pittsburgh, he was outstanding as he completed seven innings, allowed no earned runs and struck out seven batters.
Thompson has allowed a .170 ISO to right-handed batters this year, and he'll have to deal with a big right-handed power hitter in Luke Voit, who has a .231 ISO against right-handed pitching this season.
Washington's offense hasn't been good on the road, ranking 25th in all of baseball with 3.89 runs per game away from home.
Thompson has also pitched much better at home, where he boasts a 2.50 ERA versus a 5.09 ERA on the road. He would seem to have the advantage against a weak Nationals offense in this one.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs will face Washington starter Anibal Sanchez, who turned 38 years old earlier this year.
Sanchez led the American League with a 2.57 ERA in 2013, but his performance has declined steeply since his peak. Sanchez has a 7.65 ERA and 6.27 xFIP this season.
Furthermore, he reports a 17% K%, 10% BB%, and just a 41% ground ball percentage. Sanchez has allowed an ISO above .250 to both right and left-handed hitters.
Patrick Wisdom is the only hitter in the Cubs lineup with an ISO above .200 against right-handed pitching. Chicago ranks 19th in all of baseball averaging 4.13 runs per game at home.
Sanchez has made four starts and only one of them came on the road — but it was his best start, as he allowed just three earned runs over five innings.
Nationals vs. Cubs Pick
It's unlikely that the Cubs will be listed as -195 favorites against anyone for the rest of the season. Nevertheless, the Nationals are perhaps the weakest opponent a team can face with Anibal Sanchez on the mound .
Washington is one of the few teams with a worse record than the Cubs, they've been terrible on the road, and their team is depleted from selling off at the trade deadline.
I don't expect Sanchez to turn back the clock and twirl a gem here, but we're going with the Cubs as a heavy home favorite at -195 on the moneyline at DraftKings.
Pick: Cubs ML (-195)
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