Cubs vs. Nationals Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 8/16/2022

The Chicago Cubs (47-67) and Ian Happ (2 HR in his last game) are favored (-161) on the moneyline for their matchup with the Washington Nationals (39-78) on Tuesday at 7:05 PM ET. Chicago’s Justin Steele gets the start, and he’ll go against Washington’s Patrick Corbin.

Cubs vs. Nationals Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Cubs vs. Nationals

We have the Nationals on the moneyline at +136 on the moneyline as our best bet in this game after digging through all of the key trends and statistics for this matchup. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 8.5 runs.

Our computer pick: Washington Nationals (+136) and Over (8.5)

Cubs vs. Nationals Game Info

• Chicago Cubs probable starting pitcher: Justin Steele
• Washington Nationals probable starting pitcher: Patrick Corbin
• Game Day: Tuesday, August 16, 2022
• Game Time: 7:05 PM ET
• Location: Washington D.C.
• Stadium: Nationals Park

Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals Pitching Matchup

Cubs Starter Justin Steele

• Steele gets the start for the Cubs, his 22nd of the season. He is 4-7 with a 3.63 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings pitched.
• His last appearance came on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals, when the lefty tossed six innings, surrendering two earned runs while allowing eight hits.
• In 21 games this season, the 27-year-old has put up a 3.63 ERA and 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings, while allowing a batting average of .252 to opposing hitters.
• Steele is trying to secure his seventh quality start of the year in this outing.
• Steele has put together 13 starts this year in which he pitched five or more innings.
• He will face a Nationals offense that ranks 26th in the league with 443 runs while batting .248 as a unit. It has a collective .375 slugging percentage (26th in MLB play) and has hit a total of 96 home runs (28th in MLB).
• In six innings over one appearance against the Nationals this season, Steele has a 3.00 ERA and a 1.333 WHIP while his opponents are hitting .320.

Nationals Starter Patrick Corbin

• Corbin (4-16) will take the mound for the Nationals, his 24th start of the season.
• The left-hander gave up six earned runs and allowed five hits in two-thirds of an inning pitched against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, Aug. 6.
• The 33-year-old has an ERA of 7.02, a 2.55 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.822 in 23 games this season.
• He has earned a quality start six times in 23 starts this season.
• Corbin has started 23 games this season, and he’s lasted five or more innings 14 times. He averages 4.2 innings per appearance.
• The Cubs have scored 474 runs this season, which ranks 21st in MLB. They have 943 hits, 16th in baseball, with 116 home runs (16th in the league).

Cubs Betting Picks & Insights

• The Cubs have been favorites in 36 games this season and won 15 (41.7%) of those contests.
• Chicago has entered nine games this season favored by -161 or more and is 5-4 in those contests.
• The sportsbooks’ moneyline implies a 61.7% chance of a victory for the Cubs.
• Chicago’s games have gone over the total in 52 of their 116 chances.
• In 116 games with a spread this season, the Cubs are 59-57-0 ATS.

Nationals Betting Picks & Insights

• The Nationals have come away with 32 wins in the 101 contests they have been listed as the underdogs in this season.
• Washington has a mark of 21-45 in contests where bookmakers favor them by +136 or worse on the moneyline.
• Oddsmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Nationals have a 42.4% chance of pulling out a win.
• Washington and their opponents have hit the over in 58 of their 117 games with a total set by oddsmakers this season.
• The Nationals have posted a record of 49-68-0 against the spread this season.

Cubs Leaders & Batting Stats

• Happ has accumulated a team-high 54 runs batted in.
• Happ’s home runs place him 95th in the majors, and he is 59th in RBI.
• Happ carries a seven-game hitting streak into this matchup. During his last 10 outings he is batting .368 with five doubles, three home runs, four walks and eight RBI.
• Willson Contreras is hitting .249 with 21 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs and 40 walks.
• Including all major league hitters, Contreras is 41st in homers and 100th in RBI.
• Nico Hoerner has racked up a team-best batting average of .301.
• Hoerner will look to build on his two-game hitting in this game. During his last five outings he is batting .368 with three doubles, a home run, three walks and two RBI.
• Patrick Wisdom’s 21 home runs and 54 runs batted in both pace his team.

Nationals Leaders & Batting Stats

• Nelson Cruz has racked up a team-leading 56 runs batted in.
• Among all batters in the big leagues, Cruz ranks 153rd in homers and 50th in RBI.
• Cruz carries a two-game hitting streak into this matchup. During his last five outings he is batting .357 with a double, a home run, a walk and four RBI.
• Cesar Hernandez is hitting .243 to lead the lineup.
• Hernandez ranks 403rd overall in homers and 236th in RBI this year.
• Keibert Ruiz has a team-best batting average of .243.
• Luke Voit paces the Nationals with 15 long balls.