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Chi. Cubs (69-50) at Washington (59-61)
- When: Aug 11 2026, 6:45 PM
- Where: Nationals Park, Washington
- TV: MARQ
Chi. Cubs vs Washington MLB Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Chi. Cubs -168
Runline: Chi. Cubs -1.5 (-105)
Total: 9.0
Chicago Cubs: Happ Finally Found the Bat
The Cubs arrive in Washington having won six of seven and apparently forgetting they were supposed to be tired after playing 17 straight days. Chicago went 12-5 during that grind and finished it by pounding Kansas City 10-2.
Ian Happ has escaped baseball jail after an ugly 0-for-22 skid. He homered Saturday, added a two-run blast Sunday and has five hits in his last seven at-bats. Michael Busch added a double and two singles Sunday, Alex Bregman had three hits, and Miguel Amaya launched a three-run homer.
Shota Imanaga gets the ball with an 8-9 record and 3.60 ERA. More importantly for bettors, he’s allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven straight starts. He held the Dodgers to one run across five innings last time out, striking out six without issuing a walk.
Chicago at -168 isn’t cheap, but the pitching matchup certainly explains the tax.
Washington Nationals: Don’t Look Now
Washington has suddenly won four of five, including a three-game sweep of Cincinnati. Apparently nobody informed the Nationals they’re supposed to make life easy for wild-card contenders.
Abimelec Ortiz homered Sunday, while Keibert Ruiz went 3-for-3 with a walk. The bullpen also delivered, with Will Dion throwing three scoreless innings and Trevor Williams adding 2 1/3 scoreless frames.
The problem is Jake Irvin.
Irvin is 2-5 with a 5.37 ERA and owns a frightening 8.54 ERA across six career starts against Chicago. That’s less “home-field advantage” and more “please hide the scoreboard.”
He did beat Philadelphia in his latest outing, allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings, so Washington isn’t completely drawing dead.
LVSB Betting Prediction
Washington is playing better baseball, but Chicago owns significant advantages in starting pitching and offensive depth. With Imanaga rolling and Irvin’s history against the Cubs looking like a horror movie, Chicago is the side.
Happ stays hot, Imanaga keeps Washington manageable, and the Cubs cover the run line without requiring bettors to chew through all ten fingernails.
Final Score: Cubs 7, Nationals 4
Lean: Chicago Cubs -1.5 (-105)
Total: Over 9.0 (-105)
- MLB Baseball Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
- Get real-time live scores & latest betting odds here!
