Chicago Cubs (1-0) at Washington (0-1)
When: Saturday, October 7th 2017
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Time: 5:35 ET | TV: TBS
Opening Odds: Washington -121/8
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If the Washington Nationals didn’t feel the pressure coming into this postseason, they certainly do now. The NL East champs will try and avoid an 0-2 hole at home when they battle the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of the National League Division Series on Saturday evening. Washington recorded only two hits against starter Kyle Hendricks and relievers Carl Edwards, Jr. and closer Wade Davis while being blanked 3-0 on Friday in the series opener and is two defeats away from its fourth first-round playoff exit in the last six years. Nationals star Bryce Harper had one of his team’s hits but doesn’t have an extra-base hit in six games since returning from a knee injury. Outfielder Jayson Werth, who finished the regular season in a 10-for-76 slide, was hitless in three at-bats in Game 1. Chicago’s Anthony Rizzo certainly came through in the opener with a run-scoring single and an RBI double – the only runs the Cubs really needed to start their defense of the World Series Championship. Rizzo is 19-for-54 with three homers and 12 RBIs over his last 14 postseason games after going 7-for-47 in his first 13. Davis picked up his fifth career postseason save on Friday and has allowed just one earned run in 28.1 innings over 23 career postseason relief appearances.
Pitchers: Cubs – Jon Lester (13-8, 4.33 ERA) | Nationals – Gio Gonzalez (15-9, 2.96)
Lester was up and down all season, but had a terrific September in which he went 5-1, but allowed a career-worst 26 homers in 2017. Lester has been very consistent when it comes to the postseason, recording a 9-7 record and 2.63 ERA in 22 career appearances (19 starts) – and posted a 2.84 ERA in two no-decisions against the Nationals this season.
Gonzalez will be tasked with keeping the Nationals in this series and not go back to Chicago in elimination-mode. Gonzalez recorded at least 15 victories for the fourth time in his career but seemed to tire down the stretch, losing four of his last six starts. He has a 3.93 ERA in four career postseason starts (all no-decisions) and lost to the Cubs in his lone meeting this season despite giving up one run and two hits in six innings.
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I knew this was going to happen to the Nationals. Their offense just shuts down when October rolls around and now they’ll be pressing to get back in this series. Lester is a proven postseason pitcher who will shut down Washington and earn the victory.
Pick: Cubs +115
BETTING TRENDS:
- Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. National League East.
- Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 playoff games.
- Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 playoff road games.
- Cubs are 7-1 in their last 8 Divisional Playoff games.
- Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 road games.
- Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 10-2 in their last 12 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 16-5 in their last 21 overall.
- Cubs are 9-3 in their last 12 Saturday games.
- Cubs are 18-6 in their last 24 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Cubs are 19-7 in their last 26 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 21-8 in their last 29 games following a win.
- Cubs are 9-4 in their last 13 during game 2 of a series.
- Cubs are 49-24 in their last 73 games on grass.
- Cubs are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Cubs are 0-6 in their last 6 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Cubs are 8-1 in Lester’s last 9 starts vs. National League East.
- Cubs are 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 Saturday starts.
- Cubs are 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts with 6 days of rest.
- Cubs are 7-2 in Lester’s last 9 road starts.
- Cubs are 6-2 in Lester’s last 8 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Cubs are 19-7 in Lester’s last 26 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 20-8 in Lester’s last 28 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 41-18 in Lester’s last 59 starts on grass.
- Cubs are 35-16 in Lester’s last 51 starts.
- Cubs are 3-7 in Lester’s last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 20-8 in their last 28 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 16-7 in their last 23 games following a loss.
- Nationals are 2-5 in their last 7 overall.
- Nationals are 2-5 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Nationals are 2-5 in their last 7 games on grass.
- Nationals are 3-8 in their last 11 playoff games.
- Nationals are 3-8 in their last 11 Divisional Playoff games.
- Nationals are 1-4 in their last 5 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Nationals are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 1-6 in their last 7 Divisional Playoff home games.
- Nationals are 1-6 in their last 7 playoff home games.
- Nationals are 0-5 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Nationals are 6-1 in Gonzalez’s last 7 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 4-1 in Gonzalez’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Nationals are 4-1 in Gonzalez’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Nationals are 16-5 in Gonzalez’s last 21 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 8-3 in Gonzalez’s last 11 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Nationals are 2-6 in Gonzalez’s last 8 Saturday starts.
- Nationals are 4-13 in Gonzalez’s last 17 starts vs. National League Central.
- Under is 9-2 in Cubs last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 7-2 in Cubs last 9 road games.
- Under is 20-6-1 in Cubs last 27 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 22-8-1 in Cubs last 31 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 10-4 in Cubs last 14 on grass.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Cubs last 8 Divisional Playoff games.
- Over is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 11-5 in Cubs last 16 overall.
- Under is 13-6 in Cubs last 19 Saturday games.
- Over is 6-0 in Lester’s last 6 starts on grass.
- Over is 5-0 in Lester’s last 5 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 6-0 in Lester’s last 6 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 7-0 in Lester’s last 7 starts overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Lester’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Nationals last 5 Saturday games.
- Over is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 7-1-1 in Nationals last 9 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 6-1-2 in Nationals last 9 vs. National League Central.
- Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Nationals last 6 playoff home games.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Nationals last 6 Divisional Playoff home games.
- Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 6-2-1 in Nationals last 9 home games.
- Under is 31-13-7 in Nationals last 51 on grass.
- Under is 31-13-7 in Nationals last 51 overall.
- Under is 9-1-1 in Gonzalez’s last 11 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Gonzalez’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Gonzalez’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 23-9 in Gonzalez’s last 32 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Over is 12-5-2 in Gonzalez’s last 19 starts vs. National League Central.
- Over is 9-4 in Gonzalez’s last 13 Saturday starts.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Washington.
- Under is 4-1 in Gonzalezs last 5 home starts vs. Cubs.
- Under is 5-2 in Gonzalezs last 7 starts vs. Cubs.
- Nationals are 1-4 in Gonzalezs last 5 home starts vs. Cubs.
- Nationals are 0-4 in Gonzalezs last 4 starts vs. Cubs.
