Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 3/28/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

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

Wrigley Field is the location where the Chicago Cubs (92-70 last season) will take on the Washington Nationals (66-96 last year) on Saturday. The line on this matchup has Washington at +106 while Chicago is at -128. The total is set at 8. The starting pitchers will be Miles Mikolas and Cade Horton.

The Nationals hit 259 two-baggers as a team and smacked 161 baseballs out of the stadium. Washington had a slugging percentage of .390 and struck out 1,351 times, while taking a walk on 443 occasions. As a unit, the Washington Nationals notched 4.2 runs per game, which was 20th in baseball. They tallied 657 runs batted in in addition to 1,314 hits over the course of last season, while their team batting average came in at .242. They tallied 687 runs scored and held an on-base percentage of .304.

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The Nationals finished with a team earned run average of 5.35 for the prior year (29th in the league), and they struck out 1,248 batters. Nationals pitchers yielded 214 home runs and also 899 runs in total (29th in baseball). They walked 566 opposing batters and their FIP finished at 4.72 as a team over the course of last year. Washington gave up 1,491 hits (9.4 per 9 innings) as well as 846 earned runs. They accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.20 and the pitching staff held a WHIP of 1.45.

The Nationals relievers earned a save percentage of 64.9% and stepped onto the hill in 134 save situations. The bullpen inherited 277 base runners last season with 39.0% of those players crossed home plate. Nationals relief pitchers entered the contest with players on base 167 times in addition to having 134 contests in high leverage situations. The Nationals dispatched 583 relievers to the mound in the prior season. The relievers finished with 76 holds last season (25th in MLB). They earned 37 saves over the course of last season and did not convert 20 of their 57 save chances.

The Nationals converted 67.9% of balls in play into outs out of 12,810 innings, which had them ranked 29th in MLB. The Washington Nationals accounted for 4,270 putouts over the course of the prior season, as well as 1,404 assists and 94 errors. Their fielding percentage held at .984 which was 25th in professional baseball, and they turned 132 double plays.

Mikolas has taken the mound for 1,252 innings and has accounted for 895 punch outs thus far in his career. Mikolas (72-75 record in his career) sits with a FIP of 4.18 while he has faced 5,218 opposing batters in the major leagues. His earned run average is 4.24 (590 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.216. He has surrendered 1,277 base knocks (9.2 hits per 9 innings) and has had 246 free passes.

The Chicago Cubs accounted for an on-base percentage of .320 in addition to a team batting average of .249 last year. They struck out on 1,277 instances (25th in the league) and were sitting with 1,371 hits. Chicago accumulated 223 home runs for the previous season to go along with 771 RBIs. The Cubs had a team slugging percentage of .430 and they were recording 4.90 runs per game (5th in the league). They hit 267 doubles, while walking 554 times and putting up 793 runs.

The Cubs held a team WHIP of 1.177 in addition to having a FIP of 4.16 as a team during the previous year. Their strikeout to walk ratio was 7.90 (1,265 strikeouts vs 405 bases on balls). They finished at 10th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 1,284. They yielded 202 homers and they conceded 4.07 runs per 9 innings (8th in the league). The Chicago pitching staff allowed 649 runs for the prior year while having an ERA of 3.79 (605 earned runs relinquished).

Chicago relievers had an inherited score percentage of 33.8% out of their 142 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers took the field 158 times in high leverage situations in addition to 101 occasions with runners on base. Wrapping up the year with 177 save situations, the Cubs compiled 110 holds and 20 blown saves. They ranked 4th in baseball holding a save rate of 68.8%, and they dispatched 523 relief pitchers to the hill last season. Chicago had bullpen pitchers step onto the hill in 64 save chances and they came away with 44 saves.

In their 12,915 innings on the field, the Cubs accumulated a defensive efficiency of 71.9% (2nd in professional baseball). The Chicago Cubs turned 117 double plays and earned a fielding percentage of .989 (4th in baseball). The Cubs had 1,342 assists, 61 errors and amassed 4,305 putouts over the course of the prior season.

During his career, Horton has surrendered 95 hits and he has 97 strikeouts in 118 innings. Horton (11-4 career win-loss record) has earned a 2.67 earned run average while conceding 7.2 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered 35 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.085 and having a FIP of 2.6. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.94 and he has faced 476 opposing hitters in his MLB career.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Chicago (-128)

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