Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction: Can MacKenzie Gore, Nationals Handle Struggling Cubs?
The Chicago Cubs are in Washington, DC, taking on the Nationals for the start of a four-game series tonight. Can MacKenzie Gore and the Nationals handle the struggling Cubs? Handicapper Krabs answers.
Krabs - May 1, 2023, 12:29 PM EDT
5 minWashington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction: Can MacKenzie Gore, Nationals Handle Struggling Cubs?
Don’t look now, but MacKenzie Gore has pitched like an ace since coming over to Washington, DC, from San Diego. Gore racked up ten strikeouts in his previous start against the Mets, allowing only one run in six innings of work. Facing the Cubs, who started the season on fire but have recently cooled off, will Gore pitch another gem tonight in front of his home crowd?
Nationals vs. Cubs Start Time and Where to Watch
- Date: Monday, May 1, 2023
- Game Time: 7:05 pm ET
- Where to Watch: MLB.TV
Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction
The Cubbies have significantly over-performed in the first month of the 2023 MLB season. Since starting off red-hot, Chicago has lost seven of their previous ten games and got swept by the Marlins over the weekend. The bats have seemingly cooled off for Chicago, and it won’t get any easier as they travel up the east coast to face one of baseball’s best young left-handed arms.
Drew Smyly almost threw a Perfect Game the other night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since giving up six runs against the Reds in his first start of the season, Smyly has pitched extremely well. The old lefty has pitched a little too well recently, overperforming his career numbers significantly. Unfortunately for the crafty veteran, the fun may be coming to an end tonight against one of the best LHP-facing lineups in baseball.
Don’t sleep on the Nationals’ offense, especially against left-handed pitching. Currently batting .294 against LHP with 83 hits, the Nats are the third-best team in baseball against lefties. Tonight they face a soft-throwing lefty who couldn’t be more due for regression after an incredible start to the 2023 MLB season.
The Nationals' bullpen has also been impressive, a feat that nobody expected heading into the season. With one of the worst bullpen rosters on paper, Washington is only sitting one spot below the Cubs in the MLB bullpen ERA rankings. Kyle Finnegan, Carl Edwards Jr., and Mason Thompson have only allowed four earned runs in nineteen innings this year. Expect MacKenzie Gore to shove for six innings like he’s done in nearly every start this year as he passes the ball off to the back end of his solid bullpen.
Coming off a nice seven-run outburst against the Pittsburgh Pirates last night, back the Nationals to defeat Drew Smyly and the struggling Cubs. This line opened up near a Pick ‘Em, an interesting line, to say the least, considering how well Smyly has pitched this year. It looks like oddsmakers are expecting the Nationals to do some damage against another left-handed starter.
Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs Pick
Washington Nationals ML +120 is the current best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
MLB Odds
