Monday, June 13, 2016

Nationals Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Kyle Hendricks vs. Max Scherzer

The Chicago Cubs visit Nationals Park on Monday to play the Washington Nationals. The probable starters are Kyle Hendricks for the Cubs and Max Scherzer for the Nationals. The opening line for this matchup has Chicago at +135 and Washington at -145. The over/under was set at 7. The Cubs have a 30-28-2 over/under record and a 37-23-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 62% of the time. The Nationals are 32-30-0 against the run line and have a 30-26-6 over/under record. They cover the spread 52% of the time.

The Cubs head into this matchup with a 42-18 record, including 20-10 on the road. Starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks has a 4-5 record with an earned run average of 2.90 and a WHIP of 0.94. He has 57 strikeouts over his 68.1 innings pitched and he has given up 49 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6.5 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.04. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.24 and they have given up 116 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .201 against the bullpen while being struck out 166 times and walking 71 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 6.45 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.91 batters per nine. They are 1st in the league in team earned run average at 2.58. The Cubs pitchers have collectively given up 389 base hits and 159 earned runs. They have allowed 47 home runs this season and they allow 0.8 homers per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a pitching staff has walked 174 batters and struck out 535. They walk 2.9 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.9 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.04 and their FIP as a unit is 3.33.

As a team, Chicago is batting .255, good for 13th in the league while putting together a .270 average away from home. The Cubs hold a .424 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .348 which is good for 3rd in baseball. They rank 14th in baseball with 8.62 hits per game. Ben Zobrist comes into this game hitting .322 and his on-base percentage is at .430. He has 64 hits this season along with 43 runs scored and 36 runs batted in. He's struck out 31 times and has walked 39 times. Kris Bryant is hitting .283 and he has an on-base percentage of .361. He has totaled 67 hits so far while scoring 45 runs and he's driven in 45. He has walked 24 times and has struck out 60 times. The Cubs have 517 hits, including 106 doubles and 73 home runs. They've stolen 27 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 15 times. Chicago has walked 255 times this season and they've struck out 498 times as a unit. They've left 443 men on base and have a team OPS of .772. They score 5.37 runs per contest and have scored a total of 322 runs so far this year.

Washington comes into this matchup with a 17-11 home record and a 38-24 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.57, Max Scherzer has a 7-4 record and a 1.05 WHIP. He has 107 strikeouts over the 88.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 68 hits. He has allowed 6.9 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.96. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.08 and they have given up 132 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .214 against the Nationals bullpen while being struck out 180 times and walking 57 times this season. As a team, Washington has allowed 7.48 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.5 batters per nine. They are 3rd in the league in team earned run average at 3.22. The Nationals pitchers as a team have surrendered 465 base knocks and 200 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 59 home runs this year and they give up 0.9 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Washington as a staff has walked 174 hitters and struck out 591. They give up a walk 2.8 times per 9 innings while they strike out 9.5 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.14 while their FIP as a staff is 3.41.

As a team, they are batting .251, good for 15th in the league while putting together a .251 average at home. The Nationals hold a .429 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .324 which is good for 13th in baseball. They rank 16th in baseball with 8.48 hits per contest. Bryce Harper comes into this matchup batting .254 and he has an OBP of .410. He has 48 hits this year along with 36 runs scored and 38 RBI. He's struck out 43 times and has walked on 52 occasions. Daniel Murphy is hitting .374 and he has an OBP of .411. He has collected 86 hits so far while he's scored 38 runs and drove in 42. He has earned a walk 12 times and has punched out 27 times. The Nationals as a unit have 526 base hits, including 100 doubles and 85 homers. They have 29 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 16 times. Washington as a team has walked 215 times this year and they have struck out 472 times. They've had 415 men left on base and have an OPS of .753. They score 4.63 runs per game and have totaled 287 runs so far this season.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 30-28-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 37-23-0 against the run line so far this season

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

The Washington Nationals are 30-26-6 against the over/under so far this season

The Washington Nationals are 32-30-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

06/09/16 2B Tommy La Stella Hamstring 15-day DL (6/8)
06/07/16 LF Jorge Soler Hamstring 15-day DL (6/6)
05/18/16 P Joe Nathan Elbow 60-day DL (5/17)
04/08/16 C Kyle Schwarber Knee 60-day DL (4/8); out for season
04/04/16 P Aaron Brooks Hip 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 3B Christian Villanueva Fibula 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Dallas Beeler Shoulder 15-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Zac Rosscup Shoulder 60-day DL (2/25)

Washington Nationals

06/12/16 RF Bryce Harper Rest is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs. Philadelphia Phillies
04/28/16 P Matt Belisle Calf 15-day DL (4/27)
03/31/16 P Aaron Barrett Elbow 60-day DL (4/1)

Tony's Pick: Take the Cubs

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