GAME: Washington Nationals (63-43) at Chicago Cubs (57-49)
DATE/TIME: Friday, August 04 - 2:20 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Nationals at Cubs
Gracenote
Aug 4, 2017
A potential postseason preview is on tap when the Chicago Cubs host the Washington Nationals for a three-game series starting Friday. The Nationals are running away with the National League East, leading Miami by 12 games, while the Cubs are 1 1/2 games ahead of second-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.
The Cubs have lost two straight after a wild 10-8 defeat in the rubber match of a three-game series against visiting Arizona, marking their first back-to-back losses since the All-Star break. The Nationals have dropped two straight series after losing their last two games at Miami when they were shut out for the third time in their last 13 games. Chicago-area native Tanner Roark will start for the Nationals and make his fifth appearance and fourth start at Wrigley Field, where he is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He will go head-to-head with fellow right-hander Kyle Hendricks, who is 17-7 with a 2.48 ERA in his career at Wrigley.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN (Washington), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Tanner Roark (8-7, 4.93 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (4-3, 3.80)
Roark won his first two starts after the All-Star break before taking the loss Saturday against Colorado. The 30-year-old gave up four runs in five innings and struck out eight against the Rockies, as he was hurt by four walks. Roark is 3-2 with a 4.31 ERA in six games (five starts) against the Cubs.
Hendricks is still working his way back from a seven-week stint on the disabled list. The 27-year-old has allowed one run in each of his first two starts since coming back, going 4 1/3 innings in his return and getting through five frames Saturday at Milwaukee. Hendricks is 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA in four starts against the Nationals.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago C Willson Contreras hit two home runs and drove in six runs Thursday and has 13 homers since June 19, second-most in the majors during that span behind Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton (16).
2. Nationals RF Bryce Harper is just 7-for-31 against the Cubs over the past two seasons, but he has drawn 19 walks in 11 games over that stretch.
3. Cubs RF Jason Heyward is 0-for-15 against Roark in his career.
PREDICTION: Cubs 4, Nationals 3
DATE/TIME: Friday, August 04 - 2:20 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Nationals at Cubs
Gracenote
Aug 4, 2017
A potential postseason preview is on tap when the Chicago Cubs host the Washington Nationals for a three-game series starting Friday. The Nationals are running away with the National League East, leading Miami by 12 games, while the Cubs are 1 1/2 games ahead of second-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.
The Cubs have lost two straight after a wild 10-8 defeat in the rubber match of a three-game series against visiting Arizona, marking their first back-to-back losses since the All-Star break. The Nationals have dropped two straight series after losing their last two games at Miami when they were shut out for the third time in their last 13 games. Chicago-area native Tanner Roark will start for the Nationals and make his fifth appearance and fourth start at Wrigley Field, where he is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He will go head-to-head with fellow right-hander Kyle Hendricks, who is 17-7 with a 2.48 ERA in his career at Wrigley.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN (Washington), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Tanner Roark (8-7, 4.93 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (4-3, 3.80)
Roark won his first two starts after the All-Star break before taking the loss Saturday against Colorado. The 30-year-old gave up four runs in five innings and struck out eight against the Rockies, as he was hurt by four walks. Roark is 3-2 with a 4.31 ERA in six games (five starts) against the Cubs.
Hendricks is still working his way back from a seven-week stint on the disabled list. The 27-year-old has allowed one run in each of his first two starts since coming back, going 4 1/3 innings in his return and getting through five frames Saturday at Milwaukee. Hendricks is 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA in four starts against the Nationals.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago C Willson Contreras hit two home runs and drove in six runs Thursday and has 13 homers since June 19, second-most in the majors during that span behind Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton (16).
2. Nationals RF Bryce Harper is just 7-for-31 against the Cubs over the past two seasons, but he has drawn 19 walks in 11 games over that stretch.
3. Cubs RF Jason Heyward is 0-for-15 against Roark in his career.
PREDICTION: Cubs 4, Nationals 3
Trends - Washington at Chi. Cubs
W/L Trends
Washington
•Nationals are 7-1 in their last 8 vs. National League Central.
• Nationals are 7-2 in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Nationals are 7-3 in their last 10 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Nationals are 9-4 in their last 13 road games.
• Nationals are 1-4 in their last 5 games following an off day.
• Nationals are 4-1 in Roarks last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
• Nationals are 9-3 in Roarks last 12 Friday starts.
• Nationals are 5-2 in Roarks last 7 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Nationals are 7-3 in Roarks last 10 starts vs. National League Central.
• Nationals are 9-4 in Roarks last 13 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
• Nationals are 15-7 in Roarks last 22 road starts.
• Nationals are 2-6 in Roarks last 8 starts.
• Nationals are 2-6 in Roarks last 8 starts on grass.
• Nationals are 0-4 in Roarks last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
Chi. Cubs
•Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. National League East.
• Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Cubs are 14-4 in their last 18 overall.
• Cubs are 14-4 in their last 18 games on grass.
• Cubs are 20-6 in their last 26 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
• Cubs are 3-8 in their last 11 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Cubs are 10-4 in Hendricks' last 14 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Cubs are 10-4 in Hendricks' last 14 starts vs. National League East.
• Cubs are 5-2 in Hendricks' last 7 starts with 5 days of rest.
• Cubs are 31-15 in Hendricks' last 46 home starts.
• Cubs are 0-4 in Hendricks' last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
• Cubs are 0-4 in Hendricks' last 4 Friday starts.
OU Trends
Washington
•Under is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Under is 8-1-1 in Nationals last 10 during game 1 of a series.
• Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 games following an off day.
• Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 road games.
• Over is 4-1-1 in Nationals last 6 Friday games.
• Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Under is 11-5 in Nationals last 16 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 1-0-3 in Roarks last 4 Friday starts.
• Under is 7-1 in Roarks last 8 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 3-1-1 in Roarks last 5 starts on grass.
• Under is 3-1-1 in Roarks last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
• Over is 6-2-2 in Roarks last 10 road starts.
• Under is 3-1-1 in Roarks last 5 starts overall.
• Under is 15-5-1 in Roarks last 21 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Over is 3-1-1 in Roarks last 5 starts vs. National League Central.
Chi. Cubs
•Under is 3-0-1 in Cubs last 4 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 overall.
• Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 on grass.
• Over is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 8-2 in Cubs last 10 vs. National League East.
• Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 3-1-2 in Cubs last 6 home games.
• Under is 8-3-1 in Cubs last 12 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
• Under is 7-3 in Cubs last 10 Friday games.
• Under is 13-6-1 in Cubs last 20 during game 1 of a series.
• Under is 34-16-1 in Cubs last 51 games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Under is 4-0 in Hendricks' last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
• Under is 14-3 in Hendricks' last 17 starts vs. National League East.
• Under is 4-1 in Hendricks' last 5 Friday starts.
• Under is 4-1-1 in Hendricks' last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
• Under is 19-6-1 in Hendricks' last 26 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 19-7-1 in Hendricks' last 27 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 7-3 in Hendricks' last 10 starts on grass.
• Under is 7-3 in Hendricks' last 10 starts overall.
• Under is 11-5-1 in Hendricks' last 17 home starts.
Head to Head
•Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
• Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Chicago.
• Nationals are 4-9 in the last 13 meetings.
• Nationals are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings in Chicago
W/L Trends
Washington
•Nationals are 7-1 in their last 8 vs. National League Central.
• Nationals are 7-2 in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Nationals are 7-3 in their last 10 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Nationals are 9-4 in their last 13 road games.
• Nationals are 1-4 in their last 5 games following an off day.
• Nationals are 4-1 in Roarks last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
• Nationals are 9-3 in Roarks last 12 Friday starts.
• Nationals are 5-2 in Roarks last 7 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Nationals are 7-3 in Roarks last 10 starts vs. National League Central.
• Nationals are 9-4 in Roarks last 13 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
• Nationals are 15-7 in Roarks last 22 road starts.
• Nationals are 2-6 in Roarks last 8 starts.
• Nationals are 2-6 in Roarks last 8 starts on grass.
• Nationals are 0-4 in Roarks last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
Chi. Cubs
•Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. National League East.
• Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Cubs are 14-4 in their last 18 overall.
• Cubs are 14-4 in their last 18 games on grass.
• Cubs are 20-6 in their last 26 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
• Cubs are 3-8 in their last 11 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Cubs are 10-4 in Hendricks' last 14 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Cubs are 10-4 in Hendricks' last 14 starts vs. National League East.
• Cubs are 5-2 in Hendricks' last 7 starts with 5 days of rest.
• Cubs are 31-15 in Hendricks' last 46 home starts.
• Cubs are 0-4 in Hendricks' last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
• Cubs are 0-4 in Hendricks' last 4 Friday starts.
OU Trends
Washington
•Under is 4-0 in Nationals last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Under is 8-1-1 in Nationals last 10 during game 1 of a series.
• Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 games following an off day.
• Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 road games.
• Over is 4-1-1 in Nationals last 6 Friday games.
• Under is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Under is 11-5 in Nationals last 16 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 1-0-3 in Roarks last 4 Friday starts.
• Under is 7-1 in Roarks last 8 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 3-1-1 in Roarks last 5 starts on grass.
• Under is 3-1-1 in Roarks last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
• Over is 6-2-2 in Roarks last 10 road starts.
• Under is 3-1-1 in Roarks last 5 starts overall.
• Under is 15-5-1 in Roarks last 21 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Over is 3-1-1 in Roarks last 5 starts vs. National League Central.
Chi. Cubs
•Under is 3-0-1 in Cubs last 4 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 overall.
• Under is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 on grass.
• Over is 5-1 in Cubs last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 8-2 in Cubs last 10 vs. National League East.
• Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 3-1-2 in Cubs last 6 home games.
• Under is 8-3-1 in Cubs last 12 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
• Under is 7-3 in Cubs last 10 Friday games.
• Under is 13-6-1 in Cubs last 20 during game 1 of a series.
• Under is 34-16-1 in Cubs last 51 games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Under is 4-0 in Hendricks' last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
• Under is 14-3 in Hendricks' last 17 starts vs. National League East.
• Under is 4-1 in Hendricks' last 5 Friday starts.
• Under is 4-1-1 in Hendricks' last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
• Under is 19-6-1 in Hendricks' last 26 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 19-7-1 in Hendricks' last 27 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 7-3 in Hendricks' last 10 starts on grass.
• Under is 7-3 in Hendricks' last 10 starts overall.
• Under is 11-5-1 in Hendricks' last 17 home starts.
Head to Head
•Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
• Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Chicago.
• Nationals are 4-9 in the last 13 meetings.
• Nationals are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings in Chicago
