After being treated to one thrilling Game 5 series finale in the American League on Wednesday night, baseball fans and betting enthusiasts everywhere will get another on Thursday evening when the Washington Nationals host the Chicago Cubs in the fifth and final game of their own showdown with the NLDS Game 5 betting odds slightly against them.
That’s right diamond lovers, it’s a case of win-or-go-home when Game 5 goes down live from Nationals Park at 8:00 PM ET while airing on TBS. The +1.5 Nationals are seeking to pull off the series upset after saving their 2017 campaign by beating the defending World Series champion Cubs on Wednesday to force a fifth and final game.
Game 3 starter Jose Quintana will be available to relieve Hendricks out of the bullpen after veteran Jon Lester did so in Game 4 behind Jake Arrieta.
This series has been dominated by great pitching for the most part with Washington’s hurlers compiling a stellar 1.64 ERA over the first four games and Chicago’s pitchers putting together a fine, 2.57 ERA.
Despite finishing in the top three in the National League in scoring, both teams’ offenses have struggled mightily.
“We’ve just got to stay in our lane; in other words, not chase,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “But again, that’s easier said than done. We have to be better in the zone. We have to force their pitchers in the zone more consistently and not miss your pitch when you see it. It really comes down to that.”
Chicago Cubs vs. Washington Nationals NLDS Game 5 Betting Odds & Pick
WATCH: It’s a do or die Game 5, so who should pitch? Gonzalez or Roark?https://t.co/YWXq34Ez60 pic.twitter.com/xNoKDyvi8l
— NBC Sports Nationals (@NBCSNationals) 12 de octubre de 2017
- When: Thursday, October 12, 8:00 PM ET
- Where: Nationals Park
- TV: TBS
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: 670 The Score, 106.7 The Fan, ESPN Radio
- NLDS Game 5 Betting Odds:
Weather Forecast
- Overcast: 16°C/61°F
- Humidity: 86%
- Precipitation: 18%
- Cloud Cover: 97%
- Wind: 10 mph ENE
- Stadium Type: Open
MLB – 2017 WORLD SERIES ODDS TO WIN
Starting Pitchers
Chicago Cubs – Kyle Hendricks – R – (705, 3.03 ERA, 123 K) Hendricks will get his second start of this series after tossing a gem in Game 1 opposite Washington’s Stephen Strasburg last Friday by tossing seven shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out six. Washington Nationals – TBD The Nationals have yet to name a starter for Game 5 with the options likely to be either left-hander Gio Gonzalez or right-hander Tanner Roark. Washington manager Dusty Baker is expected to announce his decision a few hours before first pitch. Gonzalez was saddled with a no-decision after giving up three runs on three hits, including two home runs in five innings of Washington’s 6-3 Game 2 win opposite Chicago’s Jon Lester. Tanner Roark has not appeared in the series and made his final appearance by allowing two runs on three hits in just one inning of relief in Washington’s 11-8 regular season loss to Pittsburgh on Oct. 1.Game Analysis
After winning Game 4, 5-0 behind Strasburg’s gem, Washington is excited to for Thursday’s Game 5 series finale. “This is what you play for,” Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. The teams have alternated wins and losses over the first four games. Chicago took Game 1, 3-0 Thanks to Kyle Kendricks’ gem. The Nats took Game 2 by a 6-3 margin. Chicago won Game 3 by getting past Max Scherzer and getting a gem from Jose Quintana and Washington took Game 4 on Wednesday. “Nobody thought it was going to be a three-and-done type series,” Cubs left-hander Jon Lester said. “It’s two heavyweights going at it. We’re going to the last round.’ The Cubs will send Kyle Hendricks to the mound, hoping the right-hander can duplicate his stellar Game 1 performance. “He’s not shy of being in these situations,” Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “We have to go out and score some runs for him, plain and simple.”
Game 3 starter Jose Quintana will be available to relieve Hendricks out of the bullpen after veteran Jon Lester did so in Game 4 behind Jake Arrieta.
This series has been dominated by great pitching for the most part with Washington’s hurlers compiling a stellar 1.64 ERA over the first four games and Chicago’s pitchers putting together a fine, 2.57 ERA.
Despite finishing in the top three in the National League in scoring, both teams’ offenses have struggled mightily.
“We’ve just got to stay in our lane; in other words, not chase,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “But again, that’s easier said than done. We have to be better in the zone. We have to force their pitchers in the zone more consistently and not miss your pitch when you see it. It really comes down to that.”
Why bet on the Washington Nationals?
Despite what the NLDS Game 5 Betting Odds indicate, for me, and 60 percent of the betting public, the Washington Nationals are the pick to win this Game 5 matchup and dispatch the defending champion Cubs, seeing as how they are both, playing at home and have the momentum from Wednesday’s Game 4 win going for them. I know Kyle Hendricks shut them out in Game 1 and that’s another reason I believe the Nats will put a few runs on the board, simply because they’ve seen his stuff and should be a bit more prepared this time around. I also like the collective mindset of Washington’s players heading into Thursday’s series finale, despite the NLDS Game 5 Betting Odds are against them. “Nothing makes a difference except what happens [Thursday],” Zimmerman said. “We’ve beaten this horse to the ground. If you want to say experience helps or hurts, then you can say whatever you want. We’ve got to show up and play a good game [Thursday]. If we don’t, we’ll lose, and if we do we’ll play well.”Why bet on the Chicago Cubs?
Chicago is taking comfort in the fact that they’ve already won a handful of elimination games, including Games 6 and 7 of the 2016 World Series. “It’s one game and you go home,” Rizzo said. “Since I’ve been here, we’re 4-0 in those games. Backs against the wall. You’ve got to go to their place and do it. Elimination game. Anything can happen. You have to roll with it, and hopefully, we’re on the winning side.” The Cubs are 0-5 in their last 5 games against a left-handed starter, 0-7 in their last 7 road games against a southpaw and 1-6 in Kyle Hendricks’ last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.Latest NLDS Game 5 Betting Trends
- Cubs are 8-4 ATS in their last 12 games
- Cubs are 17-6 SU in their last 23 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chi Cubs’s last 5 games
- Nationals are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games
- Nationals are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington’s last 7 games
