Nationals at Cubs MLB Lines & Game Prediction for NLDS Game 3

Nationals at Cubs MLB Lines & Game Prediction for NLDS Game 3

Written by on October 9, 2017

The Chicago Cubs will look to take a 2-1 series lead and move one step closer to reaching the NLCS when they host the Washington Nationals is Game 3 of their NLDS on Monday afternoon. However, the Cubs will be facing Washington staff ace Max Scherzer in this contest, so they’ll likely be hard-pressed to get the win although the MLB lines for this game favor the Cubs. Washington may have saved their season by picking up a 6-3 win in Game 2 on Saturday after dropping the series opener 3-0 on Friday. The Cubs will counter Scherzer with left-hander Jose Quintana. Now, let’s find out what’s going to go down with the NLDS Game 3 odds.

Washington Nationals at Chicago Cubs MLB Lines & Game Prediction for NLDS Game 3

When: Monday, October 9 at 4:00 PM ET Where: Wrigley Field TV: TBS Radio: 106.7 The Fan (Washington) / 670 The Score (Chicago) Live Stream: MLB.tv MLB Lines: Chicago -105 Over/Under: 7.5

Weather Forecast

  • Clear: 26°C/78°F
  • Humidity: 41%
  • Precipitation: 0%
  • Wind: 7 mph WSW
  • Cloud Cover: Open
  • Type of Stadium: Open

Latest MLB Betting Trends

  • Nationals are 1-6 ATS in the last 7 games on the road
  • Nationals are 8-4 SU in the last 12 games on the road
  • The total went UNDER in 4 of Washington’s last 5 games on the road
  • Cubs are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 games
  • Cubs are 16-5 SU in the last 21 games
  • The total went OVER in 6 of the Cubs’s last 9 games at home

Probable Pitchers

Washington – Max Scherzer – R – (16-6, 2.51 ERA, 268 K)

Max Scherzer will take the mound for Game 3 after injuring his hamstring in his final regular season start on Sept. 30 against Pittsburgh. The good news is that Washington’s staff ace has been outstanding in not allowing more than two earned runs in eight of his final 10 regular season starts and each of his final three outings. The hard-throwing right0-hander has compiled an impressive 2.92 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs.

Chicago – Jose Quintana – L – (11-11, 4.15 ERA, 207 K)

Jose Quintana struggled down the stretch and will make his postseason start in game 3 after allowing four earned runs on six hits in just 4.2 innings against Cincinnati in his regular season finale. While Quintana did toss a phenomenal complete-game shutout against Milwaukee in his start just prior to that one, the lefty also gave up three earned runs in 5.2 innings against St. Louis in his start just before his final two regular season appearances.

Astros Are the MLB Betting Pick in ALDS Game 4 Odds vs. Red Sox

Why Bet on the Washington Nationals in the MLB Lines?

Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman smacked a pair of home runs in Game 2 to lift Washington to victory and are hoping that Scherzer will be his normal self after mildly injuring his hamstring in his last regular season start. “I’ve kind of been dealing with this stuff all year long, so this isn’t anything new, dealing with little ailments,” Scherzer said. “I feel I’ve done everything I can to put the strength in the leg that I need to and I feel like I’m good to go. We’re in the playoffs. Every game is a must-win. This is going to be a crazy atmosphere here at Wrigley. I can’t wait to toe the rubber.”

Team Record

  • All: 98-66
  • Home: 48-35
  • Away: 50-31
  • As Favorite: 82-48
  • As Underdog: 16-18
  • ATS: 77-87
  • Over/Under: 70-83-11
  • Against Left-Hand Pitchers: 23-15
  • Against Right-Hand Pitchers: 75-51

Why Bet on the Chicago Cubs in the MLB Lines?

Jose Quintana went 7-3 with a 3.74 ERA in 14 starts for the Chicago White Sox before being traded to the Cubs in a rare deal between the in-city rivals. “I don’t feel pressure,” Quintana said. “It’s really good to face these guys in our house, especially in Wrigley Field, when every game is like a final. It’s like a gift for me to get this opportunity to open the postseason here at home. I’m really excited.” Manager Joe Maddon will be keeping an eye out to make sure that the fiery southpaw is controlling his emotions. “He’s wanted to be this guy; when he came over, that’s the first thing he talked to me about was getting to the playoffs,” Maddon said. “My only concern with a guy like him is that he’s going to try to do too much, too soon and you don’t want to leave it out there and all of a sudden have to come back. If he can get out there and get into that original rhythm, spotting it up, that kind of rhythm, he has a really good chance to pitch as well as you saw him.” Chicago was five outs away from taking a commanding 2-0 lead in this series. Are the Cubs a safe betting pick in Game 3 of the NLDS? “We’ve got to win two more games,” Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “Doesn’t matter how we do it. Doesn’t matter the scenario. It starts Monday. With this group, with this experience, nothing’s really going to faze us. We’ve given up way bigger home runs than that before.” Despite their late-game collapse to drop Game 2, Maddon was satisfied with his team’s performances in the nation’s capitol. “Both teams are good; both teams are here for a reason and sometimes they get you,” Maddon said. “I actually think it’s easier to flush [a loss] this time of the year sometimes as opposed to the regular season because you have to. It’s a short series. Both teams are good. You have to move on to the next moment. You have no choice.”

Team Record

  • All: 93-71
  • Home: 48-33
  • Away: 45-38
  • As Favorite: 81-60
  • As Underdog: 12-11
  • ATS: 74-90
  • Over/Under: 75-80-9
  • Against Left-Hand Pitchers: 21-15
  • Against Right-Hand Pitchers: 72-56

Recent Head to Head Statistics (Last 10 Games)

  • Runs: Washington National 5.00 / Chicago Cubs 3.80
  • Hits: Washington National 7.90 / Chicago Cubs 7.20
  • Walks: Washington National 3.60 / Chicago Cubs 3.00
  • Strike Outs: Washington National 8.00 / Chicago Cubs 10.40
  • Over/Under: Washington National 4-5-1 / Chicago Cubs 4-5-1

Expert MLB Lines Pick & Analysis

I’m going to get right to the point by saying that I like Washington to get the win in game 3 despite being on the road. The Nats have their staff ace going for them while Chicago’s Jose Quintana has been a bit wildly inconsistent recently. The Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 road games against a left-handed starter, a blistering 36-17 in their last 53 road games versus a team with a winning home record, 5-1 in Max Scherzer’s last 6 starts against teams from the National League Central and 6-2 in Scherzer’s last 8 road starts against a team with a winning record. While Chicago has gone 4-0 in their last four home divisional playoff games, the Cubs are also just 2-5 in their last seven home games against a team with a road winning percentage of greater than .600. In the end, I like Max Scherzer to handcuff the Cubs while leading Washington to the narrow road win. MLB Lines Pick: Washington 5 Chicago 2