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

The Washington Nationals (36-74) will try to end their five-game losing streak when they visit the Chicago Cubs (43-64) on Monday at 8:05 PM ET. Oddsmakers consider the Cubs to be -185 favorites for the contest, while the Nationals are +157 underdogs looking for the upset. Chicago’s Keegan Thompson gets the start, and he’ll go against Washington’s Anibal Sanchez.

Cubs vs. Nationals Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Cubs vs. Nationals

We have the Nationals on the moneyline at +157 on the moneyline as our best bet in this contest after analyzing all of the key statistics and trends for this matchup.

Our computer pick: Washington Nationals (+157)

Cubs vs. Nationals Game Info

• Chicago Cubs probable starting pitcher: Keegan Thompson
• Washington Nationals probable starting pitcher: Aníbal Sánchez
• Game Day: Monday, August 8, 2022
• Game Time: 8:05 PM ET
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Stadium: Wrigley Field

Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals Pitching Matchup

Cubs Starter Keegan Thompson

• Thompson (8-5 with a 3.48 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 93 innings pitched) makes the start for the Cubs, his 15th of the season.
• The right-hander last pitched on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, when he threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs while giving up 10 hits.
• The 27-year-old has amassed a 3.48 ERA and 8 strikeouts per nine innings across 22 games this season, while allowing a batting average of .249 to his opponents.
• Thompson is looking to secure his fourth quality start of the season.
• Thompson has pitched five or more innings in a game eight times this year heading into this game.
• The opposing Nationals offense has the 26th-ranked slugging percentage (.373) and ranks 28th in MLB play with 86 home runs. It has a collective .247 batting average, and is 12th in MLB with 907 total hits and 26th in MLB play scoring 418 runs.

Nationals Starter Aníbal Sánchez

• The Nationals’ Sanchez (0-4) will make his fifth start of the season.
• The right-hander last pitched on Wednesday, when he gave up four earned runs and allowed five hits in 4 1/3 innings against the New York Mets.
• The 38-year-old has an ERA of 7.65, a 1.667 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.500 in four games this season.
• In four starts, Sánchez has pitched through or past the fifth inning three times. He has a season average of 5.0 frames per outing.
• The Cubs rank 15th in MLB with a .241 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks 16th in the league (.388) and 104 home runs.

Cubs Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Cubs have won 13 out of the 31 games, or 41.9%, in which they’ve been favored.
• Chicago has played as a favorite of -185 or more once this season and won that game.
• The implied probability of a win from the Cubs, based on the moneyline, is 64.9%.
• So far this season, Chicago and its opponents have hit the over in 48 of their 109 games with a total.
• The Cubs have an ATS record of 55-54-0 in 109 games with a spread this season.

Nationals Betting Picks & Insights

• The Nationals have been underdogs in 94 games this season and have come away with the win 29 times (30.9%) in those contests.
• Washington has a mark of 11-29 in contests where sportsbooks favor them by +157 or worse on the moneyline.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Nationals have a 38.9% chance of walking away with the win.
• Washington’s games have gone over the total in 54 of their 110 opportunities.
• The Nationals are 46-64-0 against the spread in their 110 games with a line set by sportsbooks this season.

Cubs Leaders & Batting Stats

• Willson Contreras has been stellar at finding his way aboard for the Cubs this season, leading the team with a .362 OBP and 85 hits.
• Contreras ranks 41st in home runs and 101st in RBI among all batters in baseball.
• Ian Happ is batting .275 with 27 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 44 walks.
• Happ ranks 140th in homers and 81st in RBI in the bigs.
• Nico Hoerner has put up a team-high batting average of .295.
• Patrick Wisdom’s 20 home runs and 52 runs batted in are both team-highs.

Nationals Leaders & Batting Stats

• Nelson Cruz has collected a team-leading 52 runs batted in.
• Among all hitters in the big leagues, Cruz is 157th in home runs and 51st in RBI.
• Cruz brings a hitting streak of two games into this matchup. During his last five outings he is batting .235 with three walks.
• Cesar Hernandez is batting .241 with 22 doubles, three triples and 34 walks.
• Among all major league hitters, Hernandez ranks 398th in home runs and 242nd in RBI.
• Luke Voit has 14 home runs, tops in the clubhouse.
• Keibert Ruiz leads the Nationals with a .243 batting average.