Chicago vs. Washington NLDS Game 1 MLB Odds & Betting Pick

Chicago vs. Washington NLDS Game 1 MLB Odds & Betting Pick

Written by on October 5, 2017

Despite having the MLB odds against them, the defending champions Chicago Cubs look to pick up a road upset win vs. Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals. Kyle Hendricks and the Cubbies knows they will face a red-hot Stephen Strasburg and a Washington Nationals team that is out to prove something this postseason after underachieving a year ago. If you’re looking to cash in on this intriguing postseason opener for both teams, then you’re going to love the expert analysis and accompanying free pick that you’re about to get. Let’s rock and roll considering the Nationals comes in as -1.5 favorites and the total has been set at 7.

Chicago vs. Washington NLDS Game 1 MLB Odds & Betting Pick

  • When: Friday, October 6, 7:30 PM ET
  • Where: Nationals Park
  • TV: TBS
  • Radio: 670 The Score. 106.7 The Fan, ESPN Radio
  • Live Stream: MLB.tv
  • MLB Odds: Washington Nationals -1.5 (Over/Under at 7)

Weather Forecast

  • Partly Cloudy: 27°C/81°F
  • Humidity: 48%
  • Precipitation: 0%
  • Cloud Cover: 30%
  • Wind: 9 mph SW
  • Stadium Type: Open

MLB Betting Preview: Arizona vs. LA Dodgers NLDS Game 1

Recent Head to Head Statistics (Last 10 Games)

  • Runs: Chicago Cubs 3.70 / Washington Nationals 5.10
  • Hits: Chicago Cubs 7 / Washington Nationals 8.60
  • Walks: Chicago Cubs 3 / Washington Nationals 3.80
  • Strikeouts: Chicago Cubs 11.10 / Washington Nationals 8.20
  • Over/Under: Chicago Cubs 3-6-1 / Washington Nationals 3-6-1

Starting Pitchers

Chicago – Kyle Hendricks – R – (7-5, 3.03 ERA, 123 K)

Hendricks will make his first postseason start since Game 7 of the World Series and he’s been on fire recently by recording an NL-best 2.19 ERA since July.

Washington – Stephen Strasburg – R – (15-4, 2.52 ERA, 204 K)

Strasburg went 15-4 with a 2.52 ERA in 28 starts this season and was absolutely phenomenal over the second half of the season by recording a jaw-dropping 0.86 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 62.2 innings over 10 starts after the annual All-Star break.

Why consider the Nationals MLB Odds?

Washington hits the postseason having lost two straight and four of their final six regular-season games although they went a respectable 5-5 over their final 10 games overall. The Nationals finished the regular season ranked fifth in scoring (5.06 RPG), fourth in team batting average (.266), fourth in on-base percentage (.782) and 14th in home runs (215). Defensively, the Nats ranked sixth in team ERA (3.88), fourth in WHIP (1.24), seventh in strikeouts (1,457), a stellar first in quality starts (99) and 12th in errors (86). The Nationals narrowly won the regular season series against Chicago 4-3 and Stephen Strasburg has shutout the opposition an insane six times in his last seven starts while holding Washington’s opponents to one run or less eight times in his last 10 starts overall.

Team Record

  • All: 97-65
  • Home: 47-34
  • Away: 50-31
  • As Favorite: 81-47
  • As Underdog: 16-18
  • ATS: 76-86
  • Over/Under: 69-82-11
  • Against Left Hand Pitchers: 22-15
  • Against Right Hand Pitchers: 75-50

Why consider the Cubs MLB Odds?

The Cubs will kick off their defense of their World Series title having won four of their final five regular-season games and seven of 10 overall. Chicago finished the regular season ranked fourth in scoring (5.07 RPG), a modest 16th in team batting average (.255), sixth in on-base percentage (.775) and ninth in home runs (223). Defensively, the reigning champs finished seventh in team ERA (3.95), ninth in WHIP (1.28) eighth in strikeouts (1,439), ninth in quality starts (77) while also finishing 19th in errors (95). The NLDS Game 1 Odds are against the Cubs. Chicago’s Kyle Hendricks has limited the opposition to one run or less in each of his last three starts and an impressive six times over his last 10 starts overall.

Team Record

  • All: 92-70
  • Home: 48-33
  • Away: 44-37
  • As Favorite: 81-60
  • As Underdog: 11-10
  • ATS: 73-89
  • Over/Under: 74-79-9
  • Against Left Hand Pitchers: 21-14
  • Against Right Hand Pitchers: 71-56

Latest Betting Trends

  • Chicago is 6-3 in its last nine games
  • The total has gone under in nine of Chicago’s last 10 games
  • Washington is 3-7 in its last 10 games at home

Expert Analysis and Betting Pick

Chicago is just 2-5 in their last seven divisional road playoff games and 1-5 in Kyle Hendricks’ last 6 Game 1 starts of a series while Washington has gone 10-3 in their last 13 home games against a right-handed starter and a near perfect 5-1 in their last six games following an off day. For me, I like the underrated Washington nationals to get the narrow win in game 1 as Stephen Strasburg out-pitches Kyle Hendricks Pick: Chicago Cubs 2 – Washington Nationals 3