Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 7/31/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals

Date: Saturday, July 31, 2021

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: MASN/MASN2

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-105) Washington (-105)

Joe Ross and the Washington Nationals (47-55, 4th in NL East) host the Chicago Cubs (50-54, 4th in NL Central) at Nationals Park on Saturday. The Cubs open this game at -105 while the Nationals are coming in at -105. The total is set at 8.5. The men taking the mound will be Kyle Hendricks and Joe Ross.

As a squad, the Chicago Cubs are putting up 4.2 runs per contest, which has them at 20th in baseball. They have earned 437 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .308. The Cubs have hit 137 two-baggers as a team and have hit 134 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accrued 415 runs batted in as well as 765 base knocks on the season, while their average at the plate is at .227. Chicago has a slugging percentage of .398 and have been rung up 994 times, while taking a walk on 333 occasions.

Get all of our MLB Parlay Picks

The Cubs have compiled a team earned run average of 4.17 on the season (15th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 911 hitters. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.31 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.34. Cubs pitchers have surrendered 137 home runs and 469 total runs (17th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 394 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 4.61 as a unit this year.

The Cubs have dispatched 381 relievers to the hill on the campaign. The relievers have inherited 173 base runners over the course of the season and 28.9% of them crossed home plate. They have tallied 27 saves this season and have blown 9 of 36 save opportunities. The Cubs relief pitchers have accumulated a save rate of 75.0% and stepped onto the hill in 96 save situations. The relievers have racked up 59 holds this season (6th in MLB). Cubs pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on base 108 times as well as having 108 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Chicago Cubs have a tally of 2,737 putouts this year, in addition to 991 assists and 57 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .985 which puts them in 9th in professional baseball, and they have turned 650 double plays. The Cubs have converted 70.3% of balls hit into play into outs in their 8,211 innings on the diamond, which ranks them 8th in MLB.

Hendricks has taken the mound for 1,169 innings and has accounted for 973 strikeouts thus far in his career. His earned run average is 3.20 (415 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.126. He has surrendered 1,065 hits (8.2 hits per nine innings) and has had 251 walks. Hendricks (81-52 career mark) is the owner of a FIP of 3.66 while facing 4,751 hitters in the majors.

Washington has recorded 117 long balls on the year to go along with 428 RBIs. They have 162 two-baggers, while walking 316 times as well as putting up 447 runs. The Washington Nationals have recorded a team OBP of .330 as well as a team batting average of .258 so far this year. The Nationals have a team slugging percentage of .419 and they earn 4.38 runs per game (17th in MLB). They have been called out on strikes on 836 instances (26th in MLB) and have a total of 865 hits.

The Nationals hold a team WHIP of 1.297 and have a FIP of 4.56 as a staff on the campaign. They have a ranking of 14th in baseball as a staff in total hits relinquished with 807. The Washington pitching staff have given up 473 runs on the year while having an ERA of 4.39 (426 earned runs surrendered). They currently have a K/BB ratio of 2.63 (854 strikeouts vs 325 free passes). They have conceded 141 HR's and they allow 4.88 runs per 9 innings (18th in MLB).

Washington has had relief pitchers enter the contest in 41 save chances and they have recorded 24 saves. They rank 20th in the league with a save rate of 58.5%, and they have sent 343 relief pitchers to the mound for the year. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 99 times in high leverage situations and on 87 occasions with base runners. Washington relievers have an inherited score rate of 39.1% out of 128 inherited runners. With 97 save situations, the Nationals have amassed 54 holds and 17 blown saves.

In their 7,857 innings on the field, the Nationals are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 70.2% (9th in baseball). The Washington Nationals have twisted 73 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .983 (21st in pro baseball). The Nationals have 856 assists, 60 errors and have earned 2,619 putouts for the season.

In his career, Ross has conceded 431 base knocks while he has totaled 389 K's in 427 frames. Ross (26-27 record in his career) has a 4.19 ERA while giving up 9.1 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed 199 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.328 and having a FIP of 4.2. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.84 and he has gone up against 1,836 opposing batters so far in his pro baseball career.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Washington (-105) and under 8.5 runs

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