Cubs-Nationals Lines Preview

The Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals will both be gunning for a victory on Saturday when they meet at Nationals Park.

Righthander Randy Wells will take the mound for the Cubs to start this game. Wells is 4-4 this season with a 2.72 ERA.

Wells’s opponent in this one will be Jordan Zimmermann. The Nationals righthander has a 4.50 ERA to go along with a 3-4 record this season.

Odds aren’t yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.

Carlos Zambrano tossed the win and helped out offensively with two RBIs as the Cubs defeated the Nationals 3-1 on Friday. The Cubs won that game as -150 favorites, but the team’s played UNDER the posted over/under (9).

Aramis Ramirez smacked a solo home run for the Cubs. Zambrano went five innings on the mound for the win, allowing four hits and one run.

Nick Johnson scored the only Nationals run after a bases-loaded walk to Willie Harris. Craig Stammen gave up six hits and three runs over six innings in the loss. Oddsmakers listed the Nationals as +130 underdogs.

Current streak:
Chicago has won 2 straight games.
Washington has lost 3 straight games.

Team records:
Chicago: 45-43 SU
Washington: 26-63 SU

Chicago most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3
Before playing Washington are 5-5
After playing Washington are 6-4
After a win are 5-5

Washington most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing Chi Cubs are 5-5
After playing Chi Cubs are 4-6
After a loss are 2-8

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi Cubs’s last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi Cubs’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Chi Cubs’s last 11 games when playing Washington
Chi Cubs are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington’s last 5 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Washington’s last 11 games when playing Chi Cubs
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington’s last 5 games at home
Washington is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games at home

Next up:
Washington home to Chi Cubs, Sunday, July 19