Chicago Cubs (0-0) at Washington (0-0)
When: Friday, October 6th 2017
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Time: 7:35 ET | TV: TBS
Opening Odds: Washington -159/7
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The Chicago Cubs begin their quest for back-to-back World Series titles when they play Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals on Friday night. The Cubs are trying to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000, and only one team since then – the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies – have returned to the World Series the year after winning. Chicago appeared to be suffering from a World Series hangover in the first half, but put things together after the All-Star Break and overtook the Milwaukee Brewers to win the NL Central for the second straight season. The Nationals are just trying to win a playoff series after being knocked out in the NLDS three times in the past five seasons. The franchise has not won a postseason series since it was in Montreal in 1981. Washington cruised to an easy NL East title and will send Stephen Strasburg to the mound on Friday opposite the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks. The Nationals won four of seven meetings with the Cubs this season.
Pitchers: Cubs – Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.03 ERA) | Nationals – Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 2.52)
Hendricks, who started the Cubs’ World Series clinching game last October, posted an NL-best 2.19 ERA since returning from a hand injury July 24th. Hendricks has allowed two or fewer runs in 10 of his 13 starts over that stretch, but he gave up three runs over seven innings in a loss to Washington on August 4th. He is 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA in seven career postseason starts.
Strasburg has been on an even better run than Hendricks with a 6-1 record, 0.86 ERA, and 76 strikeouts over 62.2 innings in his 10 starts since the All-Star Break. He allowed more than one run only twice over that span, and he hasn’t lost since August 19th. Strasburg has made only one postseason start – in the 2014 NLDS against San Francisco – and allowed two runs (one earned) over five innings in a hard-luck loss.
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I know the pitching matchup favors the Nationals in this one, but can they break the jinx of postseason failure. Bryce Harper still hasn’t shaken off the rust from an injury abscence, going 3-for-18 with seven strikeouts. The Cubs’ postseason experience should help them win this series and it starts with a Game 1 win tonight.
Pick: Cubs +150
BETTING TRENDS:
- Cubs are 6-1 in their last 7 vs. National League East.
- Cubs are 6-1 in their last 7 Divisional Playoff games.
- Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 playoff road games.
- Cubs are 14-3 in their last 17 games on grass.
- Cubs are 23-5 in their last 28 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 9-2 in their last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 13-3 in their last 16 during game 1 of a series.
- Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 road games.
- Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
- Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 Friday games.
- Cubs are 8-2 in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Cubs are 9-3 in their last 12 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 19-7 in their last 26 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 28-11 in their last 39 games following a loss.
- Cubs are 42-17 in their last 59 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 playoff games.
- Cubs are 36-16 in their last 52 games following an off day.
- Cubs are 2-5 in their last 7 Divisional Playoff road games.
- Cubs are 5-1 in Hendricks’ last 6 starts vs. National League East.
- Cubs are 7-2 in Hendricks’ last 9 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 7-3 in Hendricks’ last 10 starts with 7 or more days of rest.
- Cubs are 2-5 in Hendricks’ last 7 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 1-5 in Hendricks’ last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Cubs are 0-5 in Hendricks’ last 5 Friday starts.
- Nationals are 5-1 in their last 6 games following an off day.
- Nationals are 10-3 in their last 13 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Nationals are 18-6 in their last 24 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Nationals are 16-6 in their last 22 games following a loss.
- Nationals are 13-5 in their last 18 during game 1 of a series.
- Nationals are 10-4 in their last 14 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Nationals are 3-7 in their last 10 playoff games.
- Nationals are 3-7 in their last 10 Divisional Playoff games.
- Nationals are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 1-5 in their last 6 Divisional Playoff home games.
- Nationals are 1-5 in their last 6 playoff home games.
- Nationals are 4-0 in Strasburg’s last 4 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 5-0 in Strasburg’s last 5 Friday starts.
- Nationals are 10-1 in Strasburg’s last 11 starts vs. National League Central.
- Nationals are 45-11 in Strasburg’s last 56 starts.
- Nationals are 45-11 in Strasburg’s last 56 starts on grass.
- Nationals are 4-1 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 21-6 in Strasburg’s last 27 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Nationals are 16-5 in Strasburg’s last 21 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Nationals are 40-13 in Strasburg’s last 53 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Nationals are 19-7 in Strasburg’s last 26 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 44-18 in Strasburg’s last 62 home starts.
- Nationals are 35-17 in Strasburg’s last 52 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Cubs last 7 Divisional Playoff games.
- Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 games following a loss.
- Under is 8-2 in Cubs last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 vs. National League East.
- Under is 7-2 in Cubs last 9 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 19-6-1 in Cubs last 26 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 15-5-1 in Cubs last 21 games following an off day.
- Under is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 road games.
- Under is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 12-4-1 in Cubs last 17 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 29-11-1 in Cubs last 41 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 9-4 in Cubs last 13 on grass.
- Under is 9-4 in Cubs last 13 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 4-0 in Hendricks’ last 4 Friday starts.
- Under is 6-0 in Hendricks’ last 6 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-0 in Hendricks’ last 5 starts on grass.
- Under is 5-0 in Hendricks’ last 5 starts overall.
- Under is 5-0 in Hendricks’ last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 9-1 in Hendricks’ last 10 road starts.
- Under is 5-1 in Hendricks’ last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 23-5-1 in Hendricks’ last 29 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 15-5 in Hendricks’ last 20 starts vs. National League East.
- Under is 5-2 in Hendricks’ last 7 starts with 7 or more days of rest.
- Under is 5-2 in Hendricks’ last 7 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-0-2 in Nationals last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Nationals last 4 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 10-1 in Nationals last 11 games following an off day.
- Under is 20-3-4 in Nationals last 27 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 6-1-1 in Nationals last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-1-2 in Nationals last 8 vs. National League Central.
- Under is 13-3-3 in Nationals last 19 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Nationals last 6 games following a loss.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Nationals last 5 playoff home games.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Nationals last 5 Divisional Playoff home games.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Nationals last 5 Divisional Playoff games.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Nationals last 5 playoff games.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Nationals last 8 Friday games.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Nationals last 8 home games.
- Under is 33-15-4 in Nationals last 52 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 35-16-2 in Nationals last 53 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 30-14-7 in Nationals last 51 on grass.
- Under is 30-14-7 in Nationals last 51 overall.
- Under is 6-0 in Strasburg’s last 6 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Strasburg’s last 6 starts on grass.
- Under is 5-1 in Strasburg’s last 6 starts overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 4-1 in Strasburg’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 15-5-1 in Strasburg’s last 21 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 8-3 in Strasburg’s last 11 starts vs. National League Central.
- Over is 5-2 in Strasburg’s last 7 starts with 6 days of rest.
- Over is 22-9-2 in Strasburg’s last 33 home starts.
- Over is 16-7-1 in Strasburg’s last 24 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-0 in Strasburgs last 4 starts vs. Cubs.
- Nationals are 4-1 in Strasburgs last 5 starts vs. Cubs.
- Under is 4-1 in Hendricks’ last 5 starts vs. Nationals.
- Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Washington.
