The Chicago Cubs host the Washington Nationals on March 29, 2026. First pitch from Wrigley Field is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on NATS.
The Cubs are favored by -250 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Nationals are +201 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 9.5 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Nationals vs Cubs prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Nationals vs Cubs Prediction
- Nationals vs Cubs Pick: Under 9.5
My Nationals vs Cubs best bet is on game totals. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Nationals vs Cubs Odds
| Nationals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -120 | 9.5 -100o / -121u | +201 |
| Cubs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -100 | 9.5 -100o / -121u | -250 |
- Nationals vs Cubs spread: Cubs -1.5 (-120 ), Nationals +1.5 (-100)
- Nationals vs Cubs over/under: 9.5 (-100o / -121u)
- Nationals vs Cubs moneyline: Nationals +201, Cubs -250
Nationals vs Cubs Projected Starting Pitchers
| Jake Irvin | Stat | Shota Imanaga |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | W-L | 1-1 |
| -0.4 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.9 |
| 5.70 / 5.57 | ERA /xERA | 3.73 / 4.06 |
| 5.64 / 4.82 | FIP / xFIP | 4.86 / 4.51 |
| 1.43 | WHIP | 0.99 |
| 7.9% | K-BB% | 16% |
| 42.8% | GB% | 29.2% |
| 93 | Stuff+ | 98 |
| 103 | Location+ | 108 |
Nationals vs Cubs Preview
The Cubs and Nationals continue their early-season series after splitting the first two games. Chicago bounced back with a win on Friday after dropping the opener, while Washington will look to respond and regain control.
Shota Imanaga gets the ball for the Cubs in his first start of the season. The 32-year-old left-hander last pitched in October, throwing 2 2/3 innings against the Brewers. Over 25 appearances last season, he posted a 9-8 record with a 3.73 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP, giving Chicago a steady presence on the mound.
On the other side, Jake Irvin will make his season debut for the Nationals. The right-hander closed out last year with a six-inning outing against the White Sox and finished the season with a 5.70 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP to go along with a 9-13 record. He'll look to start 2026 on a stronger note against a Cubs lineup that just found some rhythm.
Nationals vs Cubs Picks
The "Sunday Unders on Over streak" system targets Sunday MLB games where the home team is coming off 1–2 consecutive overs, suggesting recent offensive outperformance or inflated totals. The theory is that on Sundays—often the final game of a series and an early start—teams may rest key hitters, lineups can be inconsistent, and pitchers often perform better against lineups they’ve already seen. With an opening total in the 8 to 9.5 run range, the line is high enough to offer under value when offensive regression is likely. Betting the under in these specific setups has historically yielded a positive ROI over time.
Taking unders with moderate totals (8 to 9.5) in Sunday games with home teams on an over streak. Sunday games usually wrap up the series and are played during the day, usually after a night game. Hitters may tend to be worn out by the end of the week, and collectively as a league, players tend to take their rest days on Sundays, so there's an added advantage toward unders.
Pick: Under 9.5
