Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals Prediction 9-21-24 MLB Picks

The Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs meet Saturday in MLB action from Wrigley Field. Here’s a Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals prediction. This will be the third installment in a four-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Cubs vs Nationals pick.

Washington Nationals Betting Preview

Washington took on the New York Mets earlier this week. The Nats took a sweep in that one with three straight losses. After another loss 7-6 to the Cubs, on Friday in game two Washington fell again 3-1. Starter Trevor Williams finished with 5.0 innings and one earned.

In the starter slot for Saturday will be MacKenzie Gore. This year Gore is 9-12 with a 4.17 ERA in 30 starts. Over 73 career games (70 starts) Gore is 20-26 with a 4.33 ERA.

Chicago Cubs Betting Preview

Over on the Cubs’ side, they played the Oakland Athletics in their last set. Chicago won 9-2 Monday but lost the other two games. On Friday the Cubs posted two runs in the seventh inning and held on for the victory.

It’ll be Kyle Hendricks in the start for the Cubs on Saturday. So far Hendricks is 4-11 with a 6.25 ERA in 27 games (22 starts). Over 274 career games (268 starts) Hendricks is 97-80 with a 3.69 ERA.

Total Runs Facts

• Four of the Cubs’ last five day games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Four of the Nationals’ last five day games against National League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Nationals’ last five games at Wrigley Field.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last three home games against National League opponents.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Dansby Swanson has recorded a Double in three of the Cubs’ last four day games against NL East opponents that held a losing record.
• Nico Hoerner has scored at least one run in each of the Cubs’ last six day games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Dansby Swanson has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Cubs’ last four games against the Nationals.
• Kyle Hendricks has recorded four or more strikeouts in each of his seven previous appearances with the Cubs as favorites against the Nationals.
• Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one Single in each of the Cubs’ last nine games as favorites.
• Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs’ last 16 games as favorites.
• Mike Tauchman has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four appearances against the Nationals.
• Dansby Swanson has hit a home run in three of the Cubs’ last four games as home favorites against NL opponents.

Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts

• MacKenzie Gore has recorded a win in three of his four previous road appearances against NL Central opponents.
• CJ Abrams has scored at least one run in nine of the Nationals’ last 11 road games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• MacKenzie Gore has recorded six or more strikeouts in three of his four previous road appearances against NL Central opponents.
• Ildemaro Vargas has recorded at least one total base in each of his last nine appearances against NL Central opponents.
• Ildemaro Vargas has recorded at least one Single in seven of his last eight appearances against NL Central opponents.
• Joey Meneses has recorded at least one RBI in four of his last five road appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
• Joey Meneses has hit a home run in three of his six previous road appearances against the Cubs.
• Ildemaro Vargas has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances against NL Central opponents.

Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals Prediction

I’ll try the Nationals here. Should be a fun starter matchup regardless, though. Gore took a loss to the Braves with two earned in 3.2 innings on September 10, but he’s done well in the other two of his last three starts. In that pair Gore is 1-0 with one earned in 12.0 innings. As for Hendricks, he’s coming off one earned in 6.0 frames during a win in Colorado.

On Friday the Nats didn’t have too bad of a pitching outing overall (outside of Eduardo Salazar) but the offense couldn’t cash in on much. Washington has a shot Saturday but they’ve got to get the bats moving.