Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 8/13/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals

Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: Nationals.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-128) Washington (+106)

Nationals Park is the site where the Washington Nationals (59-62) will attempt to defeat the Chicago Cubs (70-50) on Thursday. The odds on this game have Chicago at -128 and Washington is coming in at +106. The betting total comes in at 8. The starting pitchers will be Kevin Gausman and Cade Cavalli.

Chicago owns a slugging percentage of .418 and have struck out 1,030 times, while drawing a walk on 513 occasions. They have amassed 585 RBI's as well as 1,031 base knocks on the season, while their team batting average comes in at .250. The Cubs have recorded 202 doubles as a squad and have hit 151 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accounted for 622 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .339. As a team, the Chicago Cubs are notching 5.2 runs per outing, which is 2nd in baseball.

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They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.61 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.25. Cubs pitchers have yielded 179 home runs and 513 runs in total (11th in MLB). Chicago has allowed 990 base hits (8.3 per 9 innings) and also 485 earned runs. The Cubs are sitting with a team earned run average of 4.07 on the season (12th in MLB), and the staff has rung up 921 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 353 hitters and their FIP is 4.64 as a unit this year.

The Cubs relief pitchers have earned a save percentage of 58.7% and have come into the game in 96 save situations. They have tallied 27 saves this year and have not converted 19 out of their 46 save opportunities. The relief pitchers have inherited 167 runners for the year with 30.5% of those players ended up scoring. Cubs pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 119 times as well as having 119 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have sent 388 relief pitchers to the hill this season. The bullpen have recorded 44 holds this season (30th in the league).

The Chicago Cubs have a total of 3,218 putouts on the year, as well as 1,118 assists and 44 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .990 which has them ranked 1st in the majors, and have 93 double plays. The Cubs have converted 72.0% of balls hit into play into outs in their 9,654 innings on the field, which has them ranked 3rd in baseball.

Gausman (113-113 career record) has earned a FIP of 3.75 while he has gone up against 8,012 opposing hitters in the major leagues. He has surrendered 1,839 base hits (8.6 hits per nine innings) with 536 free passes. His ERA is 3.81 (812 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.238. Gausman has pitched in 1,918 innings and has 1,958 punch outs during his career.

Washington has a total of 174 long balls on the campaign to go along with 620 RBIs. They have recorded 211 two-baggers, while getting a free base 425 times as well as scoring 649 runs. The Washington Nationals have tallied a team on-base percentage of .328 in addition to a team batting average of .252 on the campaign. The Nationals have a team slugging % of .440 and they score 5.36 runs per game (1st in the league). They have been rung up on 1,006 occasions (15th in MLB) and have recorded 1,045 base knocks.

The Nationals have a team WHIP of 1.389 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.77 as a team so far this season. Their K/BB ratio sits at 7.60 (911 strikeouts against 422 walks). They come in at 28th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 1,077. They have given up 168 dingers and they relinquish 5.23 runs per 9 innings (28th in the league). The Washington pitching staff have surrendered 627 runs this year while having an ERA of 4.74 (568 earned runs surrendered).

With 130 save situations, the Nationals have tallied 61 holds in addition to 31 blown saves. Washington has had relief pitchers step onto the mound in 64 save opportunities and they have earned 33 saves. Washington relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 42.3% of 189 inherited runners. Their relievers have stepped onto the hill 130 times in high leverage situations and on 123 occasions with runners on base. They rank 28th in baseball with a save percentage of 51.6%, and they have sent 384 relievers onto the diamond so far this season.

The Washington Nationals have turned 103 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .980 (30th in MLB). The Nationals have accrued 1,126 assists, 88 errors and have earned a total of 3,239 putouts for the year. Out of their 9,717 innings on the diamond, the Nationals have a efficiency on defense of 69.3% (21st in MLB).

Cavalli (12-7 career record) has earned a 4.02 ERA while giving up 9.5 hits per nine innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.34 and he has faced 794 hitters during his career. He has allowed 81 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.363 and a FIP of 4.0. During his MLB career, Cavalli has conceded 191 base hits and he has 187 K's in 181 frames.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Washington (+106)

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