Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 9/22/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Sunday, September 22, 2024

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

The Washington Nationals (68-85) are hitting the road to Wrigley Field on Sunday where they will play the Chicago Cubs (78-75). The pitchers taking the mound will be Jake Irvin and Shota Imanaga.

As a unit, the Washington Nationals are putting up 4.1 runs per outing, which is 23rd in MLB. They have earned a total of 632 runs while holding a team OBP of .309. The Nationals have earned 262 two-baggers as a team and have smacked 128 balls out of the park. They have 594 runs batted in in addition to 1,231 base knocks on the year, and their team batting average is at .243. Washington has a slugging % of .376 and have struck out 1,145 times, while being walked on 434 occasions.

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They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.80 and the pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.34. Nationals pitchers have surrendered 160 home runs and 734 runs in total (26th in MLB). Washington has conceded 1,373 base hits (9.1 per 9 innings) and 656 earned runs. The Nationals have an ERA of 4.36 for the year (25th in the league), and the staff has struck out 1,242 hitters. They have walked 444 opposing hitters and their FIP comes in at 3.95 as a unit for the season.

The Nationals relievers have earned a save percentage of 64.5% and has entered the game in 142 save situations. The relievers have inherited 214 base runners on the campaign and 36.9% of those players ended up scoring. Nationals relief pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 149 times as well as having 132 appearances in high leverage situations. The Nationals have sent 536 relief pitchers to the hill this season. The relief pitchers are sitting with 80 holds this season (15th in baseball). They have compiled 40 saves on the campaign and have not converted 22 of 62 save opportunities.

The Nationals have turned 67.2% of baseballs in play into outs in their 12,186 innings, which ranks them 29th in baseball. The Washington Nationals are sitting with 4,062 putouts on the year, as well as 1,355 assists and 105 errors. Their fielding rate is at .981 which has them sitting 28th in professional baseball, and they have turned 147 double plays.

Irvin (13-19 record in his career) has a FIP of 4.22 and he has faced 1,260 batters in the majors. He has allowed 282 hits (8.5 hits per 9 innings) with 99 free passes. His earned run average is 4.29 (143 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.270. Irvin has taken the hill for 300 innings and has racked up 249 K's during his pro baseball career.

Chicago has tallied 163 long balls for the season as well as 665 runs batted in. They have notched 241 two-baggers, while getting a free base 514 times and scoring 705 runs. The Chicago Cubs have recorded a team on-base percentage of .318 as well as a batting average of .244 this year. The Cubs have a slugging percentage of .396 and they are earning 4.61 runs per game (12th in baseball). They have been called out on strikes on 1,302 instances (15th in MLB) and have recorded 1,256 base knocks.

The Cubs hold a team WHIP of 1.252 in addition to having a FIP of 4.05 as a unit on the year. They come in at 13th in MLB as a staff in total hits allowed with 1,230. The Chicago pitching staff have conceded 641 runs for the season while holding a team ERA of 3.83 (575 earned runs conceded). They currently have a K/BB ratio of 8.60 (1,291 strikeouts vs 463 walks). They have conceded 172 HR's and they allow 4.27 runs per 9 innings (12th in baseball).

Chicago has called on bullpen pitchers to take the mound in 61 save chances and they have walked away with 35 saves. They rank 26th in the league holding a save rate of 57.4%, and they have sent 470 relievers onto the diamond this season. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 161 times in high leverage situations and also on 133 occasions with runners on. Chicago bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 31.4% of 204 inherited base runners. Sitting with 139 save situations, the Cubs have compiled 77 holds and 26 blown saves.

In 12,171 innings played, the Cubs hold a defensive efficiency of 70.4% (12th in baseball). The Chicago Cubs have turned 85 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .986 (7th in baseball). The Cubs have 1,251 assists, 74 errors and have amassed 4,057 putouts on the season.

Imanaga (14-3 career win-loss record) has a 3.03 ERA while surrendering 7.7 hits per 9 innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 6.07 and he has gone up against 668 hitters in his MLB career. He has given up 56 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.030 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.0. So far in his MLB career, Imanaga has allowed 143 hits while he has totaled 170 strikeouts in 166 frames.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Washington

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