Saturday, July 5, 2014, 4:05 PM on CSCh, MASN

Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia

Chicago Cubs - Samardzija, J (2-6) vs. Washington Nationals - Gonzalez, G (5-4)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Saturday afternoon, the Chicago Cubs will send Jeff Samardzija to the hill to take on the Washington Nationals and Gio Gonzalez. Samardzija makes his 18 ^th start as Gonzalez makes his 13th.

Jeff Samardzija took the loss his last time out and that lowered his record to 2 - 7 with a 2.83 ERA. In the loss, Samardzija was touched up for 6 runs on 7 hits (including 2 homers) in 5 innings of work. It's been almost a month since Samardzija has had a victory and unless he turns it around, that streak might continue. He will be lucky to come close to his numbers from 2013 when he posted a record of 8 - 13 with a 4.34 ERA in 33 starts.

Last season, Samardzija was 1 - 1 with a 3.86 ERA in 2 starts against the Nationals. Samardzija's last start was against the Nationals and if he can fix what he did wrong in that start, he might be able to get the win this time.

Gio Gonzalez won his 2^nd straight the last time out and that boosted his record to 5 - 4 with a 3.93 ERA. In the win, Gonzalez threw 7 scoreless innings and surrendered just 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7. Since returning from the disabled list, Gonzalez has been solid. He should be able to equal or better his record from last season when he went 11 - 8 with an ERA of 3.36 in 32 starts.

In 2013, Gonzalez pitched to a no-decision in his only start against the Cubs after pitching 7 scoreless innings and allowing just 2 hits. He just got the win against the Cubs and will be looking to make it back to back wins against Chicago.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

Chicago Cubs are 41-38-4 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Chicago Cubs is 0

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

Washington Nationals are 40-36-8 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Washington Nationals is 0.6

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

06/13/14 2B Emilio Bonifacio Ribs 15-day DL (6/13)
03/31/14 P James McDonald Shoulder 60-day DL (2/23)
03/28/14 P Kyuji Fujikawa Elbow 60-day DL (3/21)

Washington Nationals

07/02/14 P Stephen Strasburg Thumb probable next start
05/16/14 CF Eury Perez Toe 60-day DL (5/15)
03/29/14 P Ross Ohlendorf Back 60-day DL (3/26)
03/28/14 P Erik Davis Elbow 60-day DL (2/13)

Josh's Pick: Take Washington

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