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The Washington Nationals will look for a split of the four-game series with a victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, May 20th. Chicago won the first two games before Washington took Wednesday night’s game 4-3. The Cubs will enter with a .500 record at 21-21 for second place in the National League Central, while Washington is 17-22, last place in the N.L. East.
The Cubs will give the ball to Trevor Williams, who has really struggled this month. In three starts, he has not thrown more than four innings and allowed 11 earned runs in 8.2 innings of work as his ERA increased to 6.27. Joe Ross is an interesting case for the Nationals as the numbers look bad, but he’s given up two or less runs in five of seven starts this season. In the other two, he allowed 18 combined earned runs to balloon his ERA up to 5.80.
Nationals vs. Cubs, 2:20 p.m. ET
Moneyline pick: Nationals +110
As it usually does in MLB betting, this will come down to the starting pitching edge where the Nationals have the edge. Ross has been wildly inconsistent but proved several times already this season how well he can pitch when he’s on. On the other hand, Williams had an ERA above 5 in 2019 and 2020 in a trend we have no reason to assume will end. Let’s go with Washington especially with plus value.
Player Prop: Kyle Schwarber over 0.5 RBI (+115)
The numbers do not look great for Kyle Schwarber this season, but he is batting cleanup in a game in which he should have plenty of opportunities with men on base. Oddsmakers are slightly suggesting he won’t be able to get to one RBI on Thursday but with how much Williams has struggled on the mound, the left-handed hitting Schwarber is worth the risk to drive one in against his former team.
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