Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 5/20/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Thursday, May 20, 2021

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Washington (-111) Chicago (-111)

Trevor Williams and the Chicago Cubs (21-20, 2nd in NL Central) host the Washington Nationals (16-22, 5th in NL East) at Wrigley Field on Thursday. The Cubs open this game at -111 while the Nationals are priced at -111. The over/under is set at 8.5. The pitchers expected to start will be Joe Ross and Trevor Williams.

As a team, the Washington Nationals are recording 3.9 runs per game, which has them at 25th in the league. They have accumulated 148 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .320. The Nationals have tallied 57 two-baggers as a team and have hit 40 baseballs out of the park. They have 144 runs batted in as well as 321 hits over the course of the season, while their team batting average comes in at .252. Washington has a slugging % of .395 and have struck out 316 times, while drawing a walk on 110 occasions.

The Nationals have compiled a team ERA of 4.09 on the campaign (15th in MLB), and their staff has struck out 325 batters. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.44 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.24. Nationals pitchers have conceded 55 home runs and also 164 runs (10th in MLB). They have walked 133 opposing hitters and their FIP is 4.67 as a team so far this season.

Nationals pitchers have entered the contest with opponents on base 23 times as well as having 28 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have recorded 12 holds for the season (27th in baseball). The Nationals relievers have accumulated a save percentage of 57.1% and has stepped onto the mound in 19 save situations. They have compiled 4 saves so far this year and have blown 3 out of their 7 save chances. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 37 base runners this year with 29.7% of them crossed the plate. The Nationals have dispatched 127 relief pitchers to the hill this year.

The Nationals have turned 72.6% of balls hit into play into outs out of 2,973 innings on the field, ranking them 1st in the majors. The Washington Nationals have a total of 991 putouts thus far, in addition to 336 assists and 20 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .985 which has them sitting 9th in pro baseball, and have 276 double plays.

Ross (23-22 win-loss mark in his career) sits with a FIP of 4.29 and he has gone up against 1,604 opposing batters in the major leagues. He has surrendered 386 base hits (9.4 hits per nine innings) and has 124 free passes. His earned run average is 4.44 (183 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.375. Ross has taken the mound for 371 frames and has 327 punch outs in his MLB career.

The Chicago Cubs are sitting with a team on-base percentage of .321 in addition to a team batting average of .238 on the season. They have struck out on 400 occasions (8th in baseball) and have notched a total of 319 base hits. Chicago has 50 long balls this season to go along with 183 RBIs. The Cubs hold a slugging percentage of .409 and they are scoring 4.63 runs per game (8th in the league). They have recorded 61 doubles, while walking 144 times and notching 190 runs.

The Cubs have a WHIP of 1.374 in addition to having a FIP of 4.54 as a staff this year. They are currently ranked 20th in MLB as a staff in total hits given up with 339. The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 185 runs so far this year while having a team ERA of 4.26 (172 earned runs surrendered). Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 2.34 (374 strikeouts against 160 bases on balls). They have surrendered 52 long balls and they surrender 4.59 runs per 9 innings (18th in baseball).

Chicago has called on bullpen pitchers to enter the contest in 15 save chances and they have converted 10 saves. They are ranked 10th in the league with a save percentage of 66.7%, and they have dispatched 161 relievers onto the field so far this season. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 57 times in high leverage situations and on 51 occasions with base runners. Chicago bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 28.6% out of their 77 inherited runners. Sitting with 46 save situations, the Cubs have earned 30 holds and 5 blown saves.

In 3,270 innings on the field, the Cubs hold a efficiency on defense of 69.1% (20th in pro baseball). The Chicago Cubs have turned 40 double plays and have a fielding rate of .987 (4th in the majors). The Cubs have recorded 410 assists, 20 errors and have earned 1,090 putouts so far this season.

Williams (33-39 career record) has a 4.53 earned run average while allowing 9.2 hits per 9 innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.32 and he has gone up against 2,450 opposing batters so far in his pro baseball career. He has allowed 286 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.365 and having a FIP of 4.6. So far in his career, Williams has surrendered 580 base hits while he has earned 453 K's in 567 innings pitched.

Who will win tonight's baseball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Washington (-111)

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