Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs Prediction 9/5/2025 Today’s MLB Picks

The Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs meet Friday in MLB action from Wrigley Field. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The Washington Nationals will start Jake Irvin here and Irvin is 8-10 with a 5.42 ERA and 102 strikeouts this season. In his career, Irvin is 0-3 with an 8.00 ERA and 15 strikeouts against the Chicago Cubs. The Chicago Cubs will start Javier Assad here and Assad is 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA and 10 strikeouts this season. In his career, Assad is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA and 9 strikeouts against the Nationals.

Washington Nationals Recap

The Washington Nationals come into this game looking to add on to their 10-5 win over the Miami Marlins in Wednesday’s series finale to sit at 56-83 this season. After this series, the Nationals will head on the road for a rematch series against the Miami Marlins.

Nationals Looking To Build On Sweep

James Wood has 134 hits with 31 doubles and a team-high 27 home runs along with 86 RBIs and 15 stolen bases while also putting up 188 strikeouts. CJ Abrams has 131 hits with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs along with 29 doubles and 28 stolen bases while Luis Garcia Jr. has 26 doubles and 13 stolen bases of his own this season. 

Why the Washington Nationals will win

• The Nationals have won each of their last three games as underdogs following a home win.
• The Cubs have lost three of their last four day games against National League opponents.
• The Nationals have covered the run line in each of their last nine road games against National League opponents following a home win.
• The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in nine of their last 10 home games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
• The Nationals have led after 3 innings in each of their last three games.
• The Cubs have lost the first inning in three of their last four day games.
• The Cubs have trailed after 5 innings in four of their last five day games against NL East opponents.

Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts

• Luis Garcia has hit a home run in each of the Nationals’ last two road games against NL opponents.
• Jacob Young has recorded at least one hit in each of his last seven appearances in day games.

Chicago Cubs Recap

The Chicago Cubs come into this game looking to build on their 5-1 win over the Atlanta Braves last time out to sit at 80-60 this season. After this series, the Cubs will head on the road for a series rematch against the Atlanta Braves.

Cubs Looking For Another Series Win

Ian Happ has 116 hits with 26 doubles, 19 home runs and 65 RBIs. Kyle Tucker has 132 hits including 25 doubles, 4 triples, 22 home runs and 73 RBIs while Seiya Suzuki also has 125 hits with 29 doubles and 27 home runs and 89 RBIs of his own. Pete Crow-Armstrong also has contributed 130 hits, 34 doubles, 4 triples, 28 home runs and 83 RBIs as well this season. Dansby Swanson has added 21 home runs and 67 RBIs, while also having 147 strikeouts and Suzuki has 149 strikeouts so far this season. Crow-Armstrong also has a team-high 31 stolen bases while Nico Hoerner has 23 stolen bases this season. Tucker’s also added 25 stolen bases while Michael Busch has also chipped in 19 doubles, 4 triples, 26 home runs and 76 RBIs this season.

Why the Chicago Cubs will win

• The Nationals have lost each of their last seven day games against NL Central opponents.
• The Cubs have won eight of their last nine day games following a home loss.
• The Cubs have covered the run line in nine of their last 10 day games against NL East opponents following a home loss.
• The Nationals have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games as underdogs against NL Central opponents following a win.
• The Nationals have lost the first inning in three of their last four day games against opponents that held a winning record.
• The Nationals have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last seven day games against NL Central opponents.
• The Nationals have trailed after 3 innings in seven of their last eight games as underdogs.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Seiya Suzuki has hit a home run in three of his last four home appearances after not playing the previous day.
• Ian Happ has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances with the Cubs as favorites against NL opponents.
• Pete Crow-Armstrong ranks T9th in the league in Steals (31) this season.

Total Runs Facts

• Five of the last six games between the Nationals and Cubs have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Four of the Nationals’ last five games against National League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in eight of the Cubs’ last nine home games against NL East opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Nationals’ last seven Friday day games against NL Central opponents.

Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction

I’m on the Cubs here. I just can’t trust Jake Irvin in this spot and while Javier Assad is far from a world-beater in his own right, I still think he’s good enough here to hold it down for the Cubs. The Nationals are just playing out the string at this point and Irvin is not an option to back for me in this game especially with the wind blowing out at Wrigley. Give me Chicago here.