Washington Nationals vs Chi. Cubs Cubs Picks and Predictions August 30th 2024

There does appear to be a chance for light rain in Washington, D.C., on Friday, as the Cubs and Nationals are set to face off at Nationals Park at 6:45 PM ET. Jake Irvin is starting for the Nationals, and they are 61-73 overall, while the Cubs have Shota Imanaga on the mound and they are 68-66.

Chicago is currently on a three-game winning streak, and they are the heavy money line favorites for Friday’s matchup, with their odds sitting at -170 compared to the Nationals at +141. The over/under line is currently at 8 runs, and MASN will be televising this NL matchup.

Chicago vs. Washington Key Information

Shota Imanaga gets the start for the Cubs today and comes in with a record of 10-3 and an ERA of 3.08. Looking back at his last outing, Imanaga went seven innings, giving up two earned runs, and got the win. In that outing, he gave up two homers. Out of his 24 starts, Imanaga has made 14 quality starts and is averaging 8.98 strikeouts per nine innings. For the season, he has allowed 22 homers. Imanaga has been much better on the road, coming in with a record of 6-1 and an ERA of 3.26 compared to 4-2 with a 4.19 ERA at home.

Seiya Suzuki has been on fire for the Cubs over his last six games, going 13/28 with three homers and eight RBIs. For the season, he is batting .278, which is 3rd on the team, and his 19 homers is the 2nd most on the team. Ian Happ is the Cubs’ top power threat, as his 23 homers leads the team and is 14th in the league. However, he comes into the game with a batting average of just .241.

As a team, the Cubs are averaging 4.5 runs per game and have been a better offensive team on the road, averaging 4.8 runs per contest. Chicago comes into the game with a team batting average of .239, which is 15th in the league, and are 17th in home runs.

Washington is sending Jake Irvin to the mound today vs. the Cubs, and he has made 27 starts this season. Irvin’s record is 9-10, and he has an ERA of 3.80. So far, he has turned in 14 quality starts and is averaging 7.48 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, Irvin finished with a no-decision, going 5 1/3 innings and giving up two earned runs on three hits. Before that, he had won two straight starts. One area of concern for Irvin has been the home run ball, as he has allowed at least one homer in four straight outings.

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Washington’s offense comes into the game averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 20th in the league. They have been one of the better teams in terms of avoiding strikeouts and are batting a collective .245, which is 11th in the MLB. As a team, they are 27th in home runs and have a collective slugging percentage of .378.

Luis Garcia Jr. has been the Nationals’ top run producer this season, as he leads the team with 63 RBIs and is 2nd with 15 homers. CJ Abrams has also been a solid power threat, as he has 18 homers, which is the best mark on the team. Over his last six games, Jacob Young is hitting .450 with one homer and two RBIs.

For a money line pick, our lean would be to take the Cubs to come out on top, and we are also leaning towards these two teams surpassing the over/under line of 8 runs. This game is projected to have the 7th most combined runs in today’s slate and the 8th most hits. However, there isn’t expected to be a ton of home runs, as this game has the 2nd lowest home run projection. Jake Irvin is 19th among today’s starters in projected strikeouts, while Shota Imanaga is 6th worst.

In NL Wild-Card Hunt, Cubs Aim to Tame Nationals’ Youth Movement

The Chicago Cubs are on a hot streak as they head into a crucial three-game series against the Washington Nationals starting Friday. With their eyes firmly set on securing a spot in the National League wild-card race, the Cubs will face a Nationals team that has been energized by the recent call-ups of several promising young players.

Cubs Riding Momentum into Washington

The Cubs have been surging lately, winning three straight games and six of their last seven. This recent run of form has propelled them into the thick of the NL wild-card race, making every game down the stretch crucial. Chicago’s offense has been firing on all cylinders, highlighted by an extraordinary 14-10 comeback win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, where the Cubs rallied from a 10-3 deficit.

The Cubs scored an astounding 41 runs during their three-game sweep of the Pirates, marking just the fourth time since 1901 that the team has scored that many runs in a series of three games or fewer. Backup catcher Christian Bethancourt played a pivotal role, driving in seven runs in the series finale, including a go-ahead two-run single in the ninth inning.

“I don’t know how you can play better than he’s played,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said of Bethancourt. “It’s been sparing at-bats, and every time he’s in there, there are extra-base hits, there are RBIs, throwing out runners. He’s been unbelievable.”

Pete Crow-Armstrong also shone for Chicago, recording a career-high four hits on Wednesday. Crow-Armstrong has been on a tear, hitting .342 over his past 23 games.

“We’ve strung together some good offensive performances,” Ian Happ said after Wednesday’s win, where he contributed three hits, two RBIs, and two runs. “Got to continue to do that.”

Nationals’ Youth Movement Shows Promise

While the Cubs are focused on the present, the Nationals are building for the future, and their young roster is starting to show signs of what’s to come. The Nationals recently took two of three from the New York Yankees, showcasing the potential of their emerging talent.

The Nationals will send right-hander Jake Irvin to the mound for the series opener. Irvin, who holds a 9-10 record with a 3.80 ERA, has had a rocky August, posting a 5.46 ERA for the month. However, his last outing was promising, as he allowed just two runs over 5 1/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves.

Irvin is part of a young Nationals rotation that has been particularly impressive over the last nine games, posting a collective 1.94 ERA and striking out more than one batter per inning.

One of the most exciting developments for the Nationals has been the arrival of 22-year-old outfield prospect Dylan Crews, who was recently promoted to the majors. Crews, ranked as Washington’s No. 1 prospect and MLB’s No. 3 overall prospect, hit his first major league home run on Wednesday and added a double, contributing to a 5-2 win over the Yankees.

“They’re going to grow together,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of his young team. “We’re going to do some really good things, and a lot faster than people think.”

The Nationals’ lineup on Wednesday featured players all aged 26 or younger, a sign of the team’s commitment to developing its young talent.

Series Outlook

As the Cubs look to solidify their position in the NL wild-card race, they’ll need to maintain their offensive momentum against a Nationals team brimming with youthful energy and potential. The Nationals, while not in playoff contention this season, are playing with nothing to lose and are eager to showcase the talent that could make them a force in the coming years.

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This series presents an intriguing clash between a team fighting for a postseason berth and another laying the groundwork for future success. The Cubs will need to stay sharp to avoid being upended by the Nationals’ promising young core, while Washington will aim to continue its development against a high-stakes opponent.