Chicago @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2018 ) Washington 3, Chi. Cubs 4
Going into the season, this weekend’s four-game series between the Washington Nationals and the visiting Chicago Cubs looked like it would be a pivotal one between pennant contenders. It turns out it’s a big one for the Cubs but more of a last gasp for the Nationals, who are barely clinging to their slim postseason hopes as the series begins Thursday.
The Cubs hold the best record in the National League and have a four-game lead over Milwaukee in the NL Central after a 6-4 win over the Brewers on Wednesday. Chicago has won 11 of its last 15 overall and took two of three from Washington last month to help sink the Nationals’ playoff hopes. Washington has lost five of its last seven to fall two games below .500 and 7 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the NL East. The Nationals dropped the finale of their three-game series against visiting St. Louis 7-6 despite 16 hits Wednesday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Chicago, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (11-10, 3.77 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (7-7, 4.09)
Hendricks has posted three straight quality starts, allowing three runs over 20 innings during that stretch. The 28-year-old held Philadelphia to one run over six frames in a win last time out after tossing seven scoreless innings to beat Cincinnati in his previous start. Hendricks is 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA in six career starts against the Nationals.
Strasburg struggled in his return from the disabled list Aug. 22, but he has pitched better his last two times out. The 30-year-old didn’t get a decision Saturday against Milwaukee, but he held a potent Brewers lineup to two runs over six innings for his second straight quality start. Strasburg is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in five regular-season starts against the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs LF Kyle Schwarber hit his 25th home run Wednesday, joining Anthony Rizzo and Billy Williams as the club’s only left-handed hitters with multiple 25-homer seasons before age 26.
2. Washington SS Trea Turner (11-for-31) and OF Adam Eaton (11-for-34) are riding seven-game hitting streaks.
3. Rizzo has recorded multiple hits in three of his past four games, going 7-for-12 over that stretch.
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Nationals 4