MLB Odds: Can Strasburg Keep Cool Versus Cubs?

Are the Chicago Cubs back on the winning track? They’ve won three straight series to get over .500 at 38-37; that still leaves the Cubs 16.15 betting units in the red for 2017, but it also puts Chicago within 1.5 games of first in the National League Central. They’ll try to close that gap this week at the expense of the Washington Nationals (45-30, +0.84 units), who are miles ahead of the pack in the NL East. Game 3 of their four-game series in DC goes Wednesday at 7:05 PM ET on the MLB Network.

John Lackey (5.54 FIP) is one of the big reasons the defending World Series champions are still playing catch-up. The Cubs are 7-8 in Lackey’s 15 starts for a loss of 5.10 units; however, the veteran righty has performed better of late, allowing just one earned run over six innings in each of his last two games.

Lackey will be matched against Stephen Strasburg (3.19 FIP), one of the top pitchers in the majors. Washington is 11-4 behind Strasburg this year for 4.21 units in profit, but he’s struggled in back-to-back home games pitching in hot weather, which remains in the forecast for Wednesday.

MLB Odds: Cubs, Nats Collide in DC

Stephen Strasburg (3.19 FIP) is one of the top pitchers in the game, but he’s had some trouble lately with the heat in DC. He’ll be on the mound for the 45-30 Washington Nationals this Wednesday when they welcome John Lackey (5.54 FIP) and the 38-37 Chicago Cubs; first pitch is 7:05 PM ET on the MLB Network.

The Nats are 11-4 (+4.21 betting units) this year with Strasburg on the mound, but he’s wilted in back-to-back home games during this heat wave, which is expected to continue throughout the week before the rain starts to fall.