Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 8/31/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals

Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: Marquee

The Chicago Cubs (68-66) are on their way to Nationals Park on Saturday where they will attempt to defeat the Washington Nationals (61-73). The pitchers who are expected to start are Javier Assad and DJ Herz.

The Cubs have tallied 218 doubles as a unit and have smacked 144 baseballs out of the park. Chicago is slugging .394 and have struck out 1,140 times, while taking a walk on 452 occasions. As a unit, the Chicago Cubs are compiling 4.5 runs per game, which is 14th in the league. They have earned 568 runs batted in in addition to 1,073 base knocks so far this year, and their team batting average is .239. They have tallied 600 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .315.

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They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.90 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.25. Cubs pitchers have allowed 146 home runs and 564 total runs (11th in baseball). Chicago has surrendered 1,080 hits (8.2 per 9 innings) in addition to 500 earned runs. The Cubs are sitting with a team ERA of 3.80 on the season (9th in the league), and their staff has struck out 1,147 hitters. They have walked 396 hitters and their FIP is 3.96 as a squad so far this year.

The Cubs relief pitchers have a save percentage of 56.9% and has stepped onto the mound in 114 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 179 runners so far this year with 29.6% of those players crossed the plate. Cubs bullpen pitchers have come into the game with opponents on base 120 times as well as having 138 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have sent 407 relievers to the mound on the season. The relief pitchers have 62 holds on the season (22nd in baseball). They have tallied 29 saves this season and have not converted 22 of their 51 save opportunities.

The Cubs have converted 70.1% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 10,647 innings, which has them ranked 15th in professional baseball. The Chicago Cubs have earned 3,549 putouts at this point in the season, as well as 1,078 assists and 65 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .986 which ranks 8th in baseball, and have a total of 67 double plays.

Assad (13-9 career win-loss mark) has earned a FIP of 3.05 and he has gone up against 1,132 batters in the majors. He has allowed 238 base hits (8.0 hits per 9 innings) and has had 112 walks. His ERA is 3.10 (92 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.311. Assad has taken the hill for 267 innings and has earned 226 K's in his MLB career.

The Washington Nationals hold an on-base percentage of .312 in addition to a team batting average of .245 so far this season. They have been called out on strikes on 996 instances (26th in the league) and have accounted for 1,089 base hits. Washington has accumulated 112 home runs this season and 533 RBIs. The Nationals have a team slugging % of .378 and they are scoring 4.22 runs per outing (20th in the league). They have put up 225 doubles, while getting a free base 383 times as well as notching 565 runs.

The Nationals hold a team WHIP of 1.335 with a FIP of 4.00 as a squad this year. They have a ranking of 29th in MLB as a staff in total hits given up with 1,196. The Washington pitching staff have surrendered 624 runs on the campaign while having an ERA of 4.24 (559 earned runs conceded). Their strikeout to walk ratio is 8.10 (1,074 strikeouts against 389 bases on balls). They have allowed 143 homers and they relinquish 4.73 runs per 9 innings (24th in the league).

Washington bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 35.8% of 179 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have come in 115 times in high leverage situations and on 125 occasions with runners on. Sitting with 120 save situations, the Nationals have recorded 67 holds in addition to 18 blown saves. They are ranked 13th in the league holding a save percentage of 66.0%, and they have dispatched 464 relievers to the mound so far this year. Washington has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the mound in 53 save opportunities and they have come away with 35 saves.

The Washington Nationals have gotten 130 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .982 (27th in the majors). The Nationals have accrued 1,187 assists, 88 errors and have accumulated 3,562 putouts this year. Out of their 10,686 innings on the diamond, the Nationals are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 67.6% (29th in the majors).

Herz (2-6 win-loss mark in his career) has a 3.87 ERA while allowing 8.3 hits per nine innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.46 and he has faced 285 opposing batters during his career. He has given up 28 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.288 and a FIP of 3.8. During his MLB career, Herz has allowed 60 base hits while he has totaled 83 strikeouts in 65 innings.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Washington

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