Sunday, May 8, 2016

Wrigley Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Tanner Roark vs. Jake Arrieta

The Washington Nationals visit Wrigley Field on Sunday to play the Chicago Cubs. The probable starters are Tanner Roark for the Nationals and Jake Arrieta for the Cubs. The opening line for this matchup has Washington at +242 and Chicago at -265. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Nationals have a 11-14-4 over/under record and a 16-13-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 55% of the time. The Cubs are 21-7-0 against the run line and have a 17-9-2 over/under record. They cover the spread 75% of the time.

The Nationals head into this matchup with a 19-10 record, including 11-6 on the road. Starting pitcher Tanner Roark has a 2-2 record with an earned run average of 2.35 and a WHIP of 1.17. He has 34 strikeouts over his 38.1 innings pitched and he has given up 30 hits so far this season. He has allowed 7 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 2.89. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 2.99 and they have given up 63 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .213 against the bullpen while being struck out 81 times and walking 23 times this season. As a team, Washington has allowed 7.06 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.72 batters per nine. They are 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 2.65. The Nationals pitchers have collectively given up 208 base hits and 78 earned runs. They have allowed 20 home runs this season and they allow 0.7 homers per nine innings as a staff. Washington as a pitching staff has walked 80 batters and struck out 257. They walk 2.7 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.7 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.09 and their FIP as a unit is 3.10.

As a team, Washington is batting .241, good for 21st in the league while putting together a .248 average away from home. The Nationals hold a .411 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .310 which is good for 22nd in baseball. They rank 17th in baseball with 8.17 hits per game. Bryce Harper comes into this game hitting .265 and his on-base percentage is at .388. He has 26 hits this season along with 20 runs scored and 26 runs batted in. He's struck out 25 times and has walked 21 times. Daniel Murphy is hitting .406 and he has an on-base percentage of .452. He has totaled 43 hits so far while scoring 19 runs and he's driven in 17. He has walked 8 times and has struck out 14 times. The Nationals have 237 hits, including 48 doubles and 37 home runs. They've stolen 13 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 5 times. Washington has walked 92 times this season and they've struck out 239 times as a unit. They've left 189 men on base and have a team OPS of .721. They score 4.41 runs per contest and have scored a total of 128 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this matchup with a 9-3 home record and a 22-6 overall mark. With an earned run average of 0.84, Jake Arrieta has a 6-0 record and a 0.74 WHIP. He has 37 strikeouts over the 43 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 20 hits. He has allowed 4.2 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 2.8. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.25 and they have given up 46 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .184 against the Cubs bullpen while being struck out 85 times and walking 25 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 6.32 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.9 batters per nine. They are 1st in the league in team earned run average at 2.41. The Cubs pitchers as a team have surrendered 177 base knocks and 68 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 20 home runs this year and they give up 0.7 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a staff has walked 72 hitters and struck out 248. They give up a walk 2.6 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.9 per 9. Their team WHIP is 0.99 while their FIP as a staff is 3.07.

As a team, they are batting .259, good for 9th in the league while putting together a .223 average at home. The Cubs hold a .439 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .364 which is good for 1st in baseball. They rank 10th in baseball with 8.75 hits per contest. Anthony Rizzo comes into this matchup batting .257 and he has an OBP of .409. He has 26 hits this year along with 24 runs scored and 28 RBI. He's struck out 17 times and has walked on 22 occasions. Kris Bryant is hitting .290 and he has an OBP of .377. He has collected 31 hits so far while he's scored 21 runs and drove in 17. He has earned a walk 13 times and has punched out 27 times. The Cubs as a unit have 245 base hits, including 57 doubles and 35 homers. They have 17 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 7 times. Chicago as a team has walked 146 times this year and they have struck out 218 times. They've had 219 men left on base and have an OPS of .804. They score 6.14 runs per game and have totaled 172 runs so far this season.

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

The Washington Nationals are 11-14-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Washington Nationals are 16-13-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 17-9-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 21-7-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Washington Nationals

05/07/16 2B Daniel Murphy Rest is not expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday vs. Chicago Cubs
04/28/16 P Matt Belisle Calf 15-day DL (4/27)
03/31/16 P Aaron Barrett Elbow 60-day DL (4/1)

Chicago Cubs

05/06/16 CF Matt Szczur Hamstring 15-day DL
04/28/16 C Miguel Montero Back 15-day DL (4/25)
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)

Josh's Pick: Take the Nationals

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald