Chi. Cubs vs Washington Nationals Picks and Predictions September 20th 2024

From Wrigley Field in Chicago, we have a Nationals vs. Cubs matchup. Friday’s forecast in Chicago calls for light rain and temperatures in the mid to upper 70s. The money line odds have the Cubs at -173 compared to the Nationals at +146. The over/under line is currently at 9 runs.

First pitch for this one is set for 2:20 PM ET, and MARQ will be televising this matchup. Trevor Williams is starting for the Nationals, and he is facing Jameson Taillon and the Cubs. Williams is 68-85, and the Cubs are 78-75, which has them second in the NL Central. The Nationals are +146 on the money line, while the Cubs are the heavy favorite at -173.

Washington vs. Chicago Key Information

• Teams: Nationals at Cubs
• Where: Wrigley Field Chicago
• Date: Friday, September 20th
• Betting Odds CHC -173 | WSH +146 O/U 9

The Nationals Can Win If…

Washington is sending right-hander Trevor Williams to the mound today vs. the Cubs. He has made 11 starts this season and has a record of 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA. Williams has been especially good on the road, coming in with a record of 3-0 and an ERA of 2.61. In his last outing, he picked up the win, going 5 2/3 innings and giving up just one earned run. Williams has not given up more than three earned runs in any of his last four outings. So far, he has made one quality start.

For the season, the Nationals are averaging 4.1 runs per game, which is 23rd in the league. They have been a bit better in terms of batting average, as their team average of .243 is 12th in the league. Washington’s top two home run hitters are CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia Jr., who have 20 and 16 homers, respectively. Both players also have 65 RBIs, which is the best mark on the team.

CJ Abrams is currently on a five-game hitting streak and has gone 7/11 in his last three games. During this stretch, he has scored two runs but has not gone deep. James Wood has two homers in his last five games but is batting just .235 in this stretch.

• The Nationals are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Nationals are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Washington has an over/under record of 4-5-1 in their last ten games.
• The Nationals have an average of 2.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Nationals are 3-7
• Looking back across the Nationals last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Washington has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Nationals have averaged 3.7 runs per game on offense

The Cubs Can Win If…

Chicago is sending Jameson Taillon to the mound today vs. the Nationals. He has made 26 starts this season and has a record of 10-8 with an ERA of 3.54. Taillon’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.16. In his 26 appearances, he has turned in 14 quality starts. Looking back at his last outing, Taillon finished with a no-decision vs. the Rockies. In that start, he gave up two earned runs in six innings of work. Before that outing, he had gone six straight starts without taking a loss. Taillon has been solid at home, coming in with an ERA of 2.8 compared to 4.86 on the road.

Chicago comes into today’s game averaging 4.6 runs per game, which is 12th in the league. They have been even better on the road, putting up 5.1 runs per contest. The Cubs have been a good home run hitting team this season, but their team batting average of .244 is just 11th in the league. Ian Happ leads the team with 25 homers, and his 85 RBIs are also the best on the team.

Seiya Suzuki has been red hot for the Cubs, as he is currently on a 10-game hitting streak and is batting .280 for the season. Over his last seven games, Michael Busch has three homers and is batting .318. Nico Hoerner has also been swinging a hot bat, as he is on a seven-game hitting streak.

• The Cubs are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Cubs are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Chicago has an over/under record of 8-2 in their last ten games.
• The Cubs have an average of 5.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Cubs are 7-3
• Looking back across the Cubs last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Chicago has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Cubs have averaged 8.0 runs per game on offense

Cubs Look to Extend Playoff Hopes Against Nationals in Crucial Series

The Chicago Cubs will attempt to extend their faint playoff hopes when they continue their four-game series against the Washington Nationals on Friday afternoon. With only nine games remaining in the regular season, the Cubs (78-75) remain seven games out of the final National League wild-card spot, putting their postseason aspirations in a precarious position.

Chicago gave itself a glimmer of hope with a thrilling 7-6 victory in the series opener on Thursday, snapping a two-game skid. The top of the Cubs’ lineup—featuring Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson, Cody Bellinger, and Seiya Suzuki—provided the bulk of the offensive firepower, going 10-for-16 with seven runs scored and five RBIs combined.

Top of the Lineup Shines

Cubs manager Craig Counsell praised his top four hitters following Thursday’s victory, particularly Suzuki, who extended his hitting streak to 10 games and launched his career-high 21st home run.

Bellinger, a pivotal contributor to the Cubs’ lineup, drove in three RBIs in the opener, bringing his season total to 92. Happ and Swanson also notched three hits each, propelling Chicago’s offense into a must-win situation as they aim to win most of their remaining games while hoping for assistance from other teams.

Washington’s Struggles

The Nationals (68-85), meanwhile, are limping through the final stretch of the season, having lost four straight games while allowing a combined 29 runs during that skid. Washington has struggled in matchups against the Cubs, surrendering 33 runs in four losses this season.

One bright spot for Washington on Thursday was Joey Gallo’s three-run homer in the sixth inning, his second home run in four games. However, the Nationals suffered a setback when outfielder Jacob Young exited with a shoulder injury after a failed stolen-base attempt in the second inning, potentially leaving the Nationals further shorthanded for the series.

Pitching Matchup

Chicago will turn to right-hander Jameson Taillon (10-8, 3.54 ERA) for Friday’s game. Taillon has remained unbeaten in his last four starts, including a no-decision in his most recent outing against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, where he allowed two runs on five hits over six innings. However, Taillon has had limited success against Washington, posting an 0-1 record with a 4.38 ERA in seven career starts against the Nationals.

The Nationals will counter with right-hander Trevor Williams (5-0, 2.22 ERA), who will be activated from the 60-day injured list to make his first start since May 30 due to an elbow flexor strain. Williams recently made two rehab starts with Double-A Harrisburg, allowing two runs over 7 1/3 innings. Over his career, Williams holds a 4-7 record with a 4.73 ERA in 17 appearances (13 starts) against the Cubs.

Williams’ return to the rotation gives Washington the opportunity to shift to a six-man rotation for the rest of the season, allowing their young pitching staff more rest.

Outlook

The Cubs are facing an uphill battle in the wild-card race, but with Taillon on the mound and the offense heating up, they’ll need to take advantage of this series against a struggling Nationals team. With both teams fighting for different reasons, Friday’s matchup holds crucial significance for Chicago as they cling to their postseason dreams.

Key Players to Watch:

• Seiya Suzuki: With a 10-game hitting streak and a career-high 21 home runs, Suzuki is playing some of his best baseball at a crucial time for the Cubs.
• Cody Bellinger: His 92 RBIs lead the team, and his ability to drive in runs will be vital for Chicago’s playoff push.
• Joey Gallo: A three-run homer in Thursday’s game may signal a resurgence for Gallo, who has been inconsistent this season.
• Jameson Taillon: Taillon will need to step up and deliver a quality start to give the Cubs a chance to win and keep their slim postseason hopes alive.

The Cubs must continue their offensive surge and rely on Taillon’s experience to keep the momentum going. On the other hand, Washington hopes to play spoiler and build toward the future with young talent and Williams back in the rotation.

The Lean

There should be no shortage of offense in today’s Nationals and Cubs matchup, and not only are we leaning towards the Nationals picking up the win, but we are also leaning towards taking the over. The Nationals offense has some good individual projections, as they are our top-ranked team in terms of runs scored, hits, and home runs. Jameson Taillon has the 9th worst individual strikeout projection among today’s starters.