Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 5/2/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals

Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: MASN

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-140) Washington (+120)

The Chicago Cubs (14-13) are on their way to Nationals Park on Tuesday where they will play the Washington Nationals (10-17). The moneyline on this game has the Cubs at -140 while the Nationals open at +120. The over/under has been set at 9. The starting pitchers will be Hayden Wesneski and Trevor Williams.

As a squad, the Chicago Cubs are earning 5.4 runs per game, which has them at 4th in MLB. They have tallied 146 runs and hold an OBP of .347. The Cubs have tallied 40 doubles as a team and have hit 37 balls out of the park. They have 140 runs batted in and 258 hits so far this year, and their batting average sits at .276. Chicago is slugging .448 and have struck out 224 times, while taking a walk on 95 occasions.

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They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.74 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.20. Cubs pitchers have relinquished 23 home runs in addition to 103 runs in total (4th in MLB). Chicago has given up 197 hits (7.4 per 9 innings) and 97 earned runs. The Cubs have compiled a team ERA of 3.64 on the year (9th in the league), and the staff has struck out 249 batters. They have walked 91 batters and their FIP is 3.84 as a squad on the campaign.

Cubs bullpen pitchers have come into the game with runners on base 16 times in addition to having 23 appearances in high leverage situations. The relievers have a total of 17 holds so far this year (11th in MLB). The Cubs relievers have recorded a save percentage of 42.9% and has stepped onto the mound in 24 save situations. They have recorded 3 saves on the campaign and have blown 4 out of their 7 save opportunities. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 25 runners over the course of the season with 24.0% of those players earned a run for their team. The Cubs have dispatched 89 relievers to the hill on the year.

The Chicago Cubs have accounted for 719 putouts so far this season, in addition to 239 assists and 14 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .986 which has them sitting 18th in the majors, and they have turned 22 double plays. The Cubs have converted 70.6% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 2,157 innings, which ranks them 9th in professional baseball.

Wesneski has taken the ball for 55 innings and has accounted for 48 strikeouts during his career. Wesneski (5-3 mark in his career) has earned a FIP of 4.34 while he has faced 232 opposing batters during his time in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.42 (21 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.175. He has surrendered 50 hits (8.1 hits per 9 innings) with 15 walks.

The Washington Nationals hold a team on-base percentage of .320 as well as a batting average of .252 this year. They have been rung up on 189 instances (30th in baseball) and have earned a total of 233 base hits. Washington has recorded 15 home runs for the year to go along with 100 runs batted in. The Nationals hold a slugging percentage of .350 and they score 3.85 runs per contest (27th in the league). They have 37 doubles, while taking a walk 81 times and earning 104 runs.

The Nationals are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.409 in addition to having a FIP of 4.74 as a unit so far this season. They sit at 17th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 234. The Washington pitching staff have relinquished 130 runs so far this season and come in with a team ERA of 4.59 (121 earned runs given up). They have earned a K/BB ratio of 7.70 (203 strikeouts against 100 walks). They have relinquished 31 long balls and they surrender 4.94 runs per 9 innings (21st in the league).

With 24 save situations, the Nationals have 13 holds in addition to 4 blown saves. Washington has had bullpen pitchers step onto the hill in 11 save chances and they have converted 7 saves. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 22 times in high leverage situations and on 25 occasions with runners on. Washington relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 29.3% out of 41 inherited runners. They rank 16th in the league holding a save percentage of 63.6%, and they have dispatched 85 relievers onto the diamond on the season.

In 2,133 innings played, the Nationals have a efficiency on defense of 68.6% (19th in MLB). The Washington Nationals have turned 28 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .982 (27th in the majors). The Nationals have accrued 263 assists, 18 errors and have earned 711 putouts for the season.

Williams (39-45 career mark) has earned a 4.26 ERA while giving up 9.2 hits per 9 innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.56 and he has faced 3,182 opposing hitters so far in his MLB career. He has allowed a total of 351 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.342 and a FIP of 4.4. So far in his MLB career, Williams has surrendered 758 hits while he has accumulated 607 strikeouts in 741 innings pitched.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Washington (+120) and under 9 runs

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