NLDS Game 1: Cubs Start Defense of Title Against Natties

Great Pitching Expected in NLDS

The Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals kick off their 2017 NLDS Series on Friday when they battle at Nationals Park. This series screams great pitching. First pitch in Game 1 is set for 7:30 pm EST. TBS will broadcast the game nationally. Both teams have pitchers well versed in Post-Season play. The Cubs are defending their 2016 World Series title. The National have won the NL East four times since 2012, but have not advanced out of the first round. Oddsmakers opened the Nationals as -140-moneyline favorites versus the Cubs, while the game’s total opened at 7. The line now is Washington -153-moneyline favorites. The total has risen to 7.5.

Cubs Will Lean on Experience in NLDS

Right hander Kyle Hendricks will take the mound for the Cubs to start this game. Hendricks is 7-5 this season with a 3.03 ERA. Hendricks is 2-2 with a 2.67 ERA in five starts against Washington in his career. will face Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 2.52), who is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in five career starts against the defending World Series champion Cubs. The Cubs will start Jon Lester in Game 2, Jose Quintana in Game 3 and Arrieta in Game 4, if necessary.

Nationals Look at Regular Season Success Against Cubs

It’ll be Stephen Strasburg toeing the rubber for the Nationals in this contest. Right hander Strasburg is 15-4 with a 2.57 ERA so far this season. Strasburg is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in five career starts against the defending World Series champion Cubs. Washington won two of three games at home against the Cubs from June 27-29. Max Scherzer beat Jake Arrieta 6-1 on June 27. Strasburg beat John Lackey 8-4 the next day. The Cubs salvaged the third game 5-4 in a battle of the bullpens. The loss went to Blake Treinen. Less than a month later was traded to the Oakland Athletics. The Nationals also won two of three in Chicago from Aug. 4-6. Tanner Roark won the opener 4-2 over Hendricks. Lackey got the win in Game 2. A7-4 over Edwin Jackson. The Nationals won the third game 9-4. Matt Wieters hit a late grand slam off Carl Edwards Jr.  

S Strasburg (15-4) ERA: 2.57

Chi Cubs’s relievers have pitched 14.1 innings in the last 3 games.
Washington’s relievers have pitched 11.2 innings in the last 3 games.

Washington Nationals – S Strasburg

NLDS Supergrid

Title	Stat	Rank	Stat	Rank
Away Team Overall Scoring vs Home Team Overall Defense	5.07	4	4.15	6
Away Team Away Scoring vs Home Team Home Defense	4.77	10	4.26	10
Home Team Overall Scoring vs Away Team Overall Defense	5.06	5	4.29	7
Home Team Home Scoring vs Away Team Road Defense	5.20	6	4.02	5

Head To Head Detail

NLDS Betting Trends

Chicago Cubs
Chi Cubs is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Chi Cubs is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Chi Cubs’s last 15 games
Chi Cubs is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Chi Cubs is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chi Cubs’s last 8 games on the road
Chi Cubs is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Washington
Chi Cubs is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi Cubs’s last 7 games when playing on the road against Washington

Washington Nationals
Washington is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Washington is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington’s last 9 games
Washington is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games at home
Washington is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Chi Cubs
Washington is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Chi Cubs
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington’s last 7 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs

Chicago Cubs

Washington Nationals

Chicago Cubs

Washington Nationals

  Next up: Chicago at Washington Saturday, October 7 Get your MLB Playoff odds at Bovada today.