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Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs Preview and Predictions 08-12-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 11th August 2018 by Gracenote
Nationals vs. Cubs Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 08/11/2018
The pitching matchup for the finale of the Chicago Cubs' three-game series against the visiting Washington Nationals on Sunday night has the potential to be something special. Washington's Max Scherzer is a threat to toss a no-hitter every time he takes the mound, and Chicago's Cole Hamels has already done it at Wrigley Field once.
Scherzer has a chance to pitch the Nationals to a series victory thanks to Saturday's 9-4 win in which Ryan Zimmerman homered twice and drove in six runs and Daniel Murphy went 3-for-4 with a two-run blast. A couple of Cubs have enjoyed recent success against Scherzer - including last year's NL Championship Series, Ben Zobrist is 7-for-19 with a double and three homers versus Scherzer since 2013, and Anthony Rizzo, who collected his 1,000th career hit Saturday and has reached base in 15 consecutive games, is 3-for-10 with a homer against the ace. Hamels will make his debut in a Cubs uniform at Wrigley Field, where he is 3-1 with a 1.76 ERA in six starts, including a no-hitter in 2015. The rubber match of the series is important to both teams, as the Cubs lead Milwaukee by two games in the National League Central and the Nationals are five back of Philadelphia in the NL East.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (15-5, 2.28 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Cole Hamels (7-9, 4.38)
Scherzer is making a strong case for his fourth Cy Young Award with another outstanding season. The 34-year-old hasn't lost since July 2 and has posted five consecutive quality starts, including a no-decision against Atlanta last time out in which he allowed one run and four hits over seven innings. Scherzer is 3-1 with a 2.92 ERA in six starts against the Cubs.
Hamels has been excellent in his first two starts for the Cubs, allowing two runs (one earned) over 11 innings in a pair of wins. The 34-year-old piled up nine strikeouts in his Cubs debut at Pittsburgh but had to grind harder to hold Kansas City to one run over six frames last time out. Hamels is 16-9 with a 2.67 ERA in 35 career starts against the Nationals, but he hasn't faced them since 2015.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg threw a 64-pitch bullpen session Saturday and is scheduled for a simulated game Wednesday with hopes of returning to the rotation within two weeks.
2. Nationals SS Trea Turner swiped his major league-best 32nd stolen base Saturday and leads the team with 32 multi-hit games.
3. Chicago 3B Kris Bryant, who has been sidelined since July 24 with left shoulder inflammation, was able to swing the bat without pain Saturday, but there is no timetable for his return.
PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Cubs 2
MLB Previews 11th August 2018 by Gracenote
Nationals vs. Cubs Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 08/11/2018
The pitching matchup for the finale of the Chicago Cubs' three-game series against the visiting Washington Nationals on Sunday night has the potential to be something special. Washington's Max Scherzer is a threat to toss a no-hitter every time he takes the mound, and Chicago's Cole Hamels has already done it at Wrigley Field once.
Scherzer has a chance to pitch the Nationals to a series victory thanks to Saturday's 9-4 win in which Ryan Zimmerman homered twice and drove in six runs and Daniel Murphy went 3-for-4 with a two-run blast. A couple of Cubs have enjoyed recent success against Scherzer - including last year's NL Championship Series, Ben Zobrist is 7-for-19 with a double and three homers versus Scherzer since 2013, and Anthony Rizzo, who collected his 1,000th career hit Saturday and has reached base in 15 consecutive games, is 3-for-10 with a homer against the ace. Hamels will make his debut in a Cubs uniform at Wrigley Field, where he is 3-1 with a 1.76 ERA in six starts, including a no-hitter in 2015. The rubber match of the series is important to both teams, as the Cubs lead Milwaukee by two games in the National League Central and the Nationals are five back of Philadelphia in the NL East.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (15-5, 2.28 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Cole Hamels (7-9, 4.38)
Scherzer is making a strong case for his fourth Cy Young Award with another outstanding season. The 34-year-old hasn't lost since July 2 and has posted five consecutive quality starts, including a no-decision against Atlanta last time out in which he allowed one run and four hits over seven innings. Scherzer is 3-1 with a 2.92 ERA in six starts against the Cubs.
Hamels has been excellent in his first two starts for the Cubs, allowing two runs (one earned) over 11 innings in a pair of wins. The 34-year-old piled up nine strikeouts in his Cubs debut at Pittsburgh but had to grind harder to hold Kansas City to one run over six frames last time out. Hamels is 16-9 with a 2.67 ERA in 35 career starts against the Nationals, but he hasn't faced them since 2015.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg threw a 64-pitch bullpen session Saturday and is scheduled for a simulated game Wednesday with hopes of returning to the rotation within two weeks.
2. Nationals SS Trea Turner swiped his major league-best 32nd stolen base Saturday and leads the team with 32 multi-hit games.
3. Chicago 3B Kris Bryant, who has been sidelined since July 24 with left shoulder inflammation, was able to swing the bat without pain Saturday, but there is no timetable for his return.
PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Cubs 2
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