Barstool Bush
Predictions

Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals

By Bush StaffUpdated 10d ago·2 min read
Chicago CubsCHC(69-50)
Washington NationalsWSH(59-61)
8—6
FINAL
123456789RHE
CHC
011311010890
WSH
2100100206110

Shota Imanaga (8-9, 3.69 ERA) got the ball for Chicago looking to build off a strong turn against the Dodgers, while Jake Irvin (2-5, 5.79 ERA) tried to give the Nationals a fourth straight win after they'd taken all 3 from the Reds.

Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
Cubs(69-50)
WLWWW
8
Nationals(59-61)
WWWLW
6
Best BetCubs -168
Postgame

The Cubs won outright 8-6, cashing the moneyline pick even though Imanaga's shaky final line (3 homers allowed) made it far closer than the -168 price suggested. Bregman and Suzuki's power was the difference we banked on, and it showed up exactly when Imanaga couldn't hold the lead.

Pregame

The Cubs are the swat-away favorite here and deservedly so — Imanaga's been the steadiest arm in a rotation missing multiple regulars, and Chicago's playing meaningful games while Washington is playing out the string. Sharp money has piled onto Chicago pregame, which lines up with the form gap between these two clubs. Backing the Cubs to win outright is the straightforward read even at a short price.

Neither starter made it out of the 5th. Imanaga got tagged for 3 homers and was pulled after 4.2 innings, and Irvin was worse, chased in the 4th after allowing 5 earned runs. That left both bullpens exposed early, which is exactly how a game like this turns into a slugfest — the Cubs are already managing a battered relief corps with Phil Maton, Daniel Palencia, Hunter Harvey, Porter Hodge and Ben Brown all on the injured list.

Shota Imanaga
Shota Imanaga
(8-9)·3.77 ERA
Aug 5 vs Dodgers
W
5.0IP
1ER
6K
0BB
89P
08/11 Lineup
Jake Irvin
Jake Irvin
(2-7)·5.80 ERA
Aug 5 @ Phillies
ND
5.1IP
2ER
3K
2BB
83P
08/11 Lineup

Alex Bregman and Seiya Suzuki each went deep for Chicago, and Suzuki added a run-scoring double on top of it, giving the Cubs just enough cushion to survive a Nationals lineup that kept firing back. Washington countered with homers from CJ Abrams, Jacob Young and Dylan Crews, but it wasn't enough to finish off the comeback.

Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
(69-50)
Aug 9W@ Royals10-2
Aug 8L@ Royals3-6
Aug 8W@ Royals6-4
Aug 6Wvs Blue Jays3-2
Aug 5Wvs Dodgers7-6
Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
(59-61)
Aug 9Wvs Reds7-1
Aug 8Wvs Reds8-2
Aug 7Wvs Reds5-3
Aug 6L@ Phillies3-7
Aug 5W@ Phillies10-4

Chicago came in having won 4 of its last 5, riding a run that included taking 2 of the first 3 from Kansas City, and the Cubs looked every bit like a team playing loose and confident behind Bregman's power. Washington, for all its warts, has quietly been just as hot — the Nationals also won 4 of their last 5 and rode a 3-0 sweep of Cincinnati into this series, a nice run for a club still built around kids like Abrams, Young and Crews.

Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
(14)
  • 10-Day-ILMatt Shaw (RF) — The Cubs announced Monday that Shaw recently resumed light hitting while rehabbing his sprained left hand in Arizona, MLB.com reports.08/05
  • 15-Day-ILEdward Cabrera (SP) — Cabrera (hamstring) is slated to make the third start of his rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Knoxville, MLB.com reports.08/11
  • 15-Day-ILPhil Maton (RP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced July 21 that Maton will rest for roughly three weeks after requiring a platelet-rich plasma injection to address right knee tendinitis, MLB.com reports.08/05
  • 15-Day-ILDaniel Palencia (RP) — Palencia (elbow) is slated to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday at Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/05
  • 15-Day-ILGavin Hollowell (RP) — The Cubs placed Hollowell on the 15-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.07/31
  • 15-Day-ILHoby Milner (RP) — Milner (abdomen) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, tossing a scoreless inning.07/30
  • 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — Miller (elbow) began a rehab assignment Sunday at Triple-A Iowa, striking out two batters while allowing one run on two hits and no walks.08/09
  • 60-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP) — Manager Craig Counsell announced July 8 that Martin (elbow) has resumed a throwing program at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, MLB.com reports.08/06
  • 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — Harvey (triceps/shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/05
  • 60-Day-ILBen Brown (RP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Brown (neck) has begun to increase his activity and has taken part in workouts with plyometric balls, MLB.com reports.08/04
  • 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP) — Steele (elbow) will throw from flat ground and then toss 20 pitches off a mound Saturday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.07/31
  • 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
(9)
  • 10-Day-ILJames Wood (RF) — Manager Blake Butera said Tuesday that Wood (oblique) is not expected to be activated from the injured list when eligible later this week, Danielle Allentuck of The Washington Post reports.08/11
  • 10-Day-ILDrew Millas (C) — Milias went 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Red Sox.07/15
  • 15-Day-ILConnelly Early (SP) — Early (elbow) will not be sent for an MRI after he felt some minor forearm tightness during a live batting practice session Tuesday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.08/07
  • 60-Day-ILRichard Lovelady (RP) — Lovelady (triceps) threw a light bullpen session Friday, MLB.com reports.08/08
  • 60-Day-ILJosiah Gray (SP) — Gray (elbow) completed a bullpen session at the Nationals' spring training facility in Florida on Tuesday, MLB.com reports.08/08
  • 60-Day-ILDJ Herz (SP) — Herz (elbow) will resume his rehab assignment with Single-A Fredericksburg on Saturday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.08/06
  • 60-Day-ILPJ Poulin (RP) — The Nationals transferred Poulin (forearm) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.08/02
  • 60-Day-ILMitchell Parker (RP) — Parker underwent elbow ligament repair surgery with an internal brace Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.07/30
  • 60-Day-ILKen Waldichuk (RP) — Waldichuk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure April 21 and is hopeful to return to game action at some point early in the 2027 season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.06/11

The Nationals are doing this without their best hitter. James Wood, a second straight All-Star, has been out since early August with an oblique strain, and Washington's lineup simply hits different with him missing the middle of the order. Chicago's pitching staff has its own headaches, with Justin Steele, Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera all working back from the injured list — depth the Cubs will need if they want to hold serve in a crowded NL wild-card picture.

In the end it was a game decided by whoever's bullpen bent less, and Chicago's held just enough. For a Nationals team that's shown real signs of life the last couple weeks, this one stings — they had the firepower to match the Cubs swing for swing and still came up 2 runs short.

Sources

MLBChicago CubsWashington NationalsPolymarketKalshiShota ImanagaJake Irvin