Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals MLB Series Odds & Preview

Setting up your MLB betting for the week? The World Series champion Chicago Cubs head to Washington to take on the Nationals this week. Washington heads into the MLB series as the favorite to beat Cubs. Chicago is 1 ½ games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central — largely because they are just a single game over .500, thanks to the inconsistent play that has been the symptom of their championship hangover. The Nationals come into Monday’s opener with a nine-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, 15 games over .500.

Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals MLB Series Odds & Preview

Tonight’s forecast: Mostly sunny with a chance of #CurlyW! https://t.co/P6kRyvlW0P #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/QKVgZsdsYc

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 26, 2017

When: Monday, June 26th to Thursday, June 29th Where: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C Radio: 670 The Score (Chicago) / 106.7 The Fan (Washington) TV: MLBN (out-of-market only) / CSN-C, ABC 7 (Chicago) / MASN (Washington) Live Stream: MLB.tv MLB Series Odds: Nationals at-200 / Chicago at +170

Should Cubs fans be optimistic?

The Cubs’ rotation was simply abysmal through the first two months of the 2014 regular season. However, over the past two weeks, the starters’ combined ERA is 3.18, best in all of Major League Baseball. Their fielding-independent pitching, though, is almost a run and a half higher, which means that their defense could have been rescuing their pitching over that stretch. On the offensive side, the Cubs are second in MLB in walk rate to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In many of the other metrics (home runs, OPS and other power numbers) they are only about in the middle of the pack. We will see, though, whether the Cubs can test the Nationals’ pitchers — and whether the Cubs’ improved pitching numbers are a result of some defensive luck or are the outcome of better execution by the hurlers, as Washington has the bats to test any pitching staff.

Which Cubs should you watch in this MLB series?

Well, if you were looking to see Kyle Schwarber, you’re going to be disappointed. The hero of last year’s postseason is now in the minor leagues thanks to an immense slump at the plate. Jason Heyward is on the disabled list right now, and Addison Russell (shoulder) could be headed there as well. Anthony Rizzo is still raking (.904 OPS, 17 HR), as is Kris Bryant (.918 OPS, 16 HR). Keep an eye on rookie Ian Happ holds down the third slot in the Chicago batting order right now. Jon Jay, pressed into more regular duty thanks to other injuries and inconsistency, has an average well over .300. In the Cubs’ rotation, Kyle Hendricks is on the disabled list. They still have Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester and John Lackey, but they are not as scary a squad. Mike Montgomery has moved into the starting rotation from the bullpen, but the Nats will have to face the Big Three and Eddie Butler.

Are the Nationals going to upstage the Cubs in this series?

Joe Maddon and Dusty Baker are great chess masters in baseball decisions. Baker alternates lefties and righties in the middle of his batting order, so Maddon will have some tough reliever choices late in the game. Michael A. Taylor has broken out this year, hitting 11 home runs since he took Adam Eaton’s spot in the lineup in April, and he has three of them in just his last two games. The Nationals have a lineup that exceeds the Cubs’ right now, at least in terms of power potential.

Pitching Matchups

Monday: Gio Gonzalez (WAS) vs Eddie Butler (CHI) Tuesday: Max Scherzer vs Jake Arrieta Wednesday: Stephen Strasburg vs John Lackey Thursday: Joe Ross vs Jon Lester Gonzalez has pitched well this season, although he’s stayed below the media buzz that Strasburg and Scherzer command. Jake Arrieta has still yet to show that dominant form from the last two seasons, so Scherzer should win that battle of aces. I also like Strasburg to outduel Lackey. The only game I see Chicago winning out of this four-game set is the Thursday finale, as Lester has remained one of the more consistent members of the Cub rotation. This would be a much more dynamic matchup if the Cubs were playing up to their terrific standards from a year ago. As it stands, I see the Nats taking three of four and making things just that much tougher for Chicago as they try to chase, of all people, the Brewers.

Latest MLB Series Results

Chicago Cubs

• Tie – June 22nd-25th @ Miami Marlins. Series Result: 2-2
• Won – June 19th-21st vs San Diego Padres. Series Result: 2-1
• Won – June 16th-18th @ Pittsburgh Pirates. Series Result: 2-1
• Loss – June 12th-14th vs @ NY Mets. Series Result: 1-2
• Loss – June 8th-11h vs Colorado Rockies. Series Result: 1-3

Washington Nationals

• Won – June 23rd-25th vs Cincinnati Reds. Series Result: 2-1
• Loss – June 19th-21st @ Miami Marlins. Series Result: 1-2
• Won – June 15th-18th @ NY Mets. Series Result: 3-1
• Loss – June 12th-14th vs Atlanta Braves. Series Result: 1-2
• Won – June 9th-11h vs Texas Rangers. Series Result: 0-3

Latest MLB Betting Trends

Chicago Cubs

• The total went UNDER in 8 of Cubs’s last 9 games
• 5-13 ATS in the last 18 games on the road
• 5-13 SU in the last 18 games on the road
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cubs’s last 6 games on the road

Washington Nationals

• 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
• The total went OVER in 10 of Washington’s last 13 games
• 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games at home
• 3-6 SU in its last 9 games at home