Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 8/12/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals

Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: Nationals.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-182) Washington (+150)

The Chicago Cubs (69-50) are on their way to Nationals Park on Wednesday where they will meet the Washington Nationals (59-61). The odds on this game have the Cubs at -182 and the Nationals are at +150. The over/under is set at 9. The men taking the mound are David Peterson and Miles Mikolas.

As a squad, the Chicago Cubs are compiling 5.2 runs per contest, which puts them at 2nd in MLB. They have tallied 614 runs while having a team on-base percentage of .339. The Cubs have earned 200 two-baggers as a team and have hit 148 balls out of the stadium. They have earned 577 RBI's and 1,022 base knocks on the campaign, while their average at the plate is .250. Chicago has a slugging % of .417 and have been called out on strikes 1,023 times, while drawing a walk on 508 occasions.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.59 and their pitching staff holds a WHIP of 1.25. Cubs pitchers have surrendered 176 home runs and also 507 runs (10th in MLB). Chicago has surrendered 979 hits (8.3 per 9 innings) in addition to 479 earned runs. The Cubs are sitting with a team earned run average of 4.05 on the season (12th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 911 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 352 opposing hitters and their FIP is 4.64 as a squad on the year.

Cubs relief pitchers have entered the game with players on base 117 times in addition to having 117 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have a total of 43 holds this season (30th in the league). The Cubs relievers have a save percentage of 57.8% and stepped onto the hill in 94 save situations. They have tallied 26 saves on the campaign and have blown 19 of their 45 chances to get a save. The relief pitchers have inherited 163 base runners for the season and 31.3% of those runners ended up crossing the plate. The Cubs have sent 384 relievers to the hill on the year.

The Cubs have turned 72.0% of balls in play into outs in their 9,573 innings, which ranks them 3rd in MLB. The Chicago Cubs have accumulated 3,191 putouts this year, in addition to 1,112 assists and 44 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .990 which has them sitting 1st in the majors, and have 93 double plays.

Peterson has taken the ball for 660 frames and has 639 punch outs so far in his MLB career. His ERA is 4.12 (302 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.366. He has surrendered 627 hits (8.5 hits per nine innings) and has had 275 free passes. Peterson (40-31 career win-loss mark) holds a FIP of 4.06 while he has gone up against 2,828 opposing hitters in the majors.

Washington has accounted for 171 home runs on the year to go along with 614 runs batted in. They have recorded 209 doubles, while walking 424 times as well as putting up 643 runs. The Washington Nationals have compiled a team on-base percentage of .328 in addition to a team batting average of .251 for the year. The Nationals hold a slugging percentage of .439 and they tally 5.36 runs per contest (1st in baseball). They have struck out on 996 occasions (15th in the league) and are sitting with 1,034 base hits.

The Nationals have a team WHIP of 1.388 and have a FIP of 4.75 as a pitching staff for the year. They are currently ranked 28th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 1,068. The Washington pitching staff have given up 619 runs this year and come in with a team ERA of 4.71 (560 earned runs conceded). Their strikeout to walk ratio is 7.60 (904 strikeouts vs 417 walks). They have allowed 165 long balls and they concede 5.21 runs per 9 innings (28th in MLB).

Sitting with 130 save situations, the Nationals have accumulated 61 holds and also 31 blown saves. Washington has had relief pitchers take the mound in 64 save opportunities and they have come away with 33 saves. Washington relievers have an inherited score rate of 42.2% out of their 187 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 129 times in high leverage situations and also on 122 occasions with runners on base. They rank 28th in baseball holding a save rate of 51.6%, and they have sent 380 relief pitchers to the mound on the campaign.

In 9,636 innings played, the Nationals have accumulated a efficiency on defense of 69.2% (23rd in MLB). The Washington Nationals have gotten 103 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .980 (30th in MLB). The Nationals have 1,122 assists, 88 errors and have a total of 3,212 putouts on the season.

Mikolas (75-84 record in his career) has earned a 4.38 earned run average and has allowed 9.3 hits per nine innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.54 and he has faced 5,705 opposing hitters so far in his MLB career. He has given up a total of 664 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.232 and having a FIP of 4.3. So far in his pro baseball career, Mikolas has allowed 1,413 base knocks while accumulating 951 punch outs in 1,365 innings pitched.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Chicago (-182)

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