Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 9/20/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Friday, September 20, 2024

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: MASN

The Washington Nationals (68-84) are hitting the road to Wrigley Field on Friday where they will take on the Chicago Cubs (77-75). The pitchers taking the mound are Trevor Williams and Jameson Taillon.

As a unit, the Washington Nationals are putting up 4.1 runs per game, which puts them at 23rd in the league. They have earned a total of 626 runs and have an OBP of .309. The Nationals have hit 258 two-baggers as a team and have hit 127 baseballs out of the park. They have earned 588 runs batted in in addition to 1,218 hits over the course of the season, and their batting average is sitting at .242. Washington is slugging .375 and have struck out 1,137 times, while taking a walk on 431 occasions.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.79 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.34. Nationals pitchers have relinquished 159 long balls and also 727 total runs (25th in MLB). Washington has allowed 1,361 base hits (9.1 per 9 innings) in addition to 649 earned runs. The Nationals hold a team ERA of 4.34 on the season (24th in baseball), and their staff has struck out 1,236 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 443 players from the other team and their FIP sits at 3.95 as a unit for the season.

The Nationals relievers have a save percentage of 65.6% and has come into the game in 141 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 212 base runners on the campaign and 36.8% of those players ended up scoring. Nationals pitchers have entered the game with runners on base 148 times and also have had 131 appearances in high leverage situations. The Nationals have sent 533 relievers to the hill this year. The relief pitchers have a total of 80 holds on the year (14th in the league). They have earned 40 saves for the season and have blown 21 of 61 save opportunities.

The Washington Nationals have notched a total of 4,038 putouts for the season, as well as 1,346 assists and 105 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .981 which has them ranked 28th in baseball, and they have turned 147 double plays. The Nationals have turned 67.2% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 12,114 innings on the field, which ranks them 29th in baseball.

Williams (49-54 career record) sits with a FIP of 4.28 while going up against 3,952 opposing hitters in the major leagues. He has given up 953 hits (9.4 hits per nine innings) and has 300 free passes. His ERA is 4.35 (442 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.370. Williams has thrown 915 frames and has totaled 748 punch outs so far in his career.

The Chicago Cubs hold a team on-base percentage of .318 as well as a team batting average of .243 this year. They have been rung up on 1,296 occasions (15th in baseball) and have earned 1,244 base knocks. Chicago has hit 162 home runs on the campaign and 658 RBIs. The Cubs have a team slugging percentage of .396 and they average 4.59 runs per contest (12th in MLB). They have tallied 241 doubles, while walking 513 times and earning 698 runs.

The Cubs are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.249 in addition to having a FIP of 4.05 as a squad this year. They currently have a K/BB ratio of 8.60 (1,283 strikeouts against 460 bases on balls). They are sitting at 10th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 1,217. They have allowed 171 homers and they surrender 4.26 runs per 9 innings (12th in MLB). The Chicago pitching staff have allowed 635 runs on the season while having an ERA of 3.81 (569 earned runs relinquished).

Chicago has called on relievers to enter the contest in 59 save opportunities and they have walked away with 34 saves. They are currently ranked 26th in the league with a save percentage of 57.6%, and they have dispatched 465 relievers to the hill this year. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 158 times in high leverage situations in addition to 132 occasions with runners on. Chicago relief pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 30.7% out of their 202 inherited runners. With 135 save situations, the Cubs have 75 holds in addition to 25 blown saves.

Out of their 12,090 innings on the field, the Cubs have a efficiency on defense of 70.5% (12th in professional baseball). The Chicago Cubs have turned 83 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .986 (8th in baseball). The Cubs have racked up 1,242 assists, 74 errors and have amassed 4,030 putouts for the season.

Taillon (69-53 career win-loss record) holds a 3.94 earned run average while surrendering 8.8 hits per nine innings. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.68 and he has faced 4,561 opposing hitters so far in his pro baseball career. He has given up a total of 479 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.215 and having a FIP of 3.9. During his career, Taillon has given up 1,066 base hits while he has tallied 969 strikeouts in 1,093 innings.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Washington

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