The CHICAGO CUBS and the WASHINGTON will both be gunning for a victory on 5/17/2019 at 7:05 PM when they meet in a game matchup.
CHICAGO CUBS vs WASHINGTON
GAME: Chicago Cubs (25-16) at Washington Nationals (18-25)
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 17 – 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia
| ROT | TEAM | PS | OU | RL |
| 901 | CHICAGO CUBS | 7.5 (-145) (-135) |
7.5 (-110) | 125 -135 |
| 902 | WASHINGTON |
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WGN (Chicago), MASN (Washington)
LINE: -135
PREDICTION: Cubs 4, Nationals 3
Oddsmakers currently have the WASHINGTON listed as -135 point favorites versus the CHICAGO CUBS, while the game’s total is sitting at 7.5.
The Washington Nationals will try to build upon their first series win in a month when they begin a three-game set with the visiting Chicago Cubs on Friday. After dropping the opener of a series against the New York Mets to begin their six-game homestand, the Nationals recovered with back-to-back victories for the first time since April 17-18.
Gerardo Parra had a two-run homer, an RBI double and a single in three at-bats during Thursday’s 7-6 win over the Mets. While Washington has a rare series win in its pocket, the Cubs experienced their first series loss since April 5-7 by dropping two of three at Cincinnati, capped by a 4-2 setback in Thursday’s finale. The opener in the nation’s capital features a stellar pitching matchup between Cubs lefty Cole Hamels and three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer for the Nationals. Hamels owns a 2.67 ERA in 37 career starts against Washington, while Scherzer went 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA versus Chicago between 2017 and 2018.
| Tony’s Pick | TEAM |
| WASHINGTON | -135 |
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Cole Hamels (3-0, 3.08 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (2-4, 3.64)
Since allowing five runs in his season debut, Hamels has posted a 2.42 ERA in a span of seven starts. He limited Milwaukee to a run and three hits over seven innings on Saturday in his fourth straight no-decision. Catcher Kurt Suzuki (5-for-13, double) is one of the few Washington hitters to find some success against the 35-year-old Hamels.
Scherzer has a 2.67 ERA over his last four starts but just one win to show for it, which came Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Missouri native entered Thursday leading the National League in strikeouts with 79, and he has walked only seven batters over the past eight starts. The 34-year-old is 4-1 with a 2.55 ERA in eight career matchups with the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals SS Trea Turner (finger) could be activated from the injured list Friday.
2. Parra has two homers, two doubles and seven RBIs in five games since signing with Washington last week.
3. Cubs SS Javier Baez had two hits in Thursday’s loss to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.
PREDICTION: Cubs 4, Nationals 3
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