Cubs vs. Nationals Prediction, Odds, Probable Pitchers, Prop Bets for Tuesday, Aug. 11

The Chicago Cubs are knocking on the door of 70 wins this season, and they have opened up a 5.5-game cushion on the top spot in the NL wild card race as a result.

Now, the Cubbies are set as road favorites on Tuesday night in a matchup with the Washington Nationals, who have fallen back in the NL standings despite the fact that they've won three games in a row.

Washington is five games out of the last wild card spot in the NL and is two games under .500 overall. With star outfielder James Wood on the shelf, the Nats are facing an uphill battle to get into the playoffs, especially since they have one of the worst pitching staffs in MLB (27th in team ERA).

On Tuesday, Washington has right-hander Jake Irvin on the mound for his 14th appearance of the season. He’ll take on Cubs ace Shota Imanaga (3.60 ERA), who has been lights out since July 1, lowering his ERA from 4.30 to 3.60 over his last six starts.

Here’s a look at the betting odds, a player prop to consider and my prediction as these teams battle for position in the National League over the final months of the regular season.

Cubs vs. Nationals Odds, Run Line and Total

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Run Line

Cubs -1.5 (-103)
Nationals +1.5 (-117)

Moneyline

Cubs: -159
Nationals: +148

Total

9 (Over -107/Under -112)

Cubs vs. Nationals Probable Pitchers

Chicago: Shota Imanaga (8-9, 3.60 ERA)
Washington: Jake Irvin (2-5, 5.37 ERA)

Cubs vs. Nationals How to Watch

Date: Tuesday, Aug. 11
Time: 6:45 p.m. EST
Venue: Nationals Park
How to Watch (TV): Nationals.TV, Marquee Sports Network
Cubs record: 69-50
Nationals record: 59-61

Cubs vs. Nationals Best MLB Prop Bets

Cubs Best MLB Prop Bet

Pete Crow-Armstrong to Hit a Home Run (+332)

Earlier today, I shared in SI Betting’s best home run picks column – Daily Dinger – why the NL MVP favorite is a threat to go yard against Washington:

Crow-Armstrong has 26 home runs in the 2026 season, and he enters Tuesday’s game with a .360 batting average and a pair of home runs in his last six games. PCA has an OPS of .931 this season, and he’s hit 19 of his 26 homers against right-handed pitching.

Still, the Chicago Cubs star has a .310 batting average and a better OPS against lefties, a sign that he’ll be a threat to go deep no matter the matchup.

On Tuesday’s PCA gets to face Washington Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin, who allowed the most home runs in MLB in 2025. This season, an injury has limited Irvin to just 13 appearances, but he’s allowed 10 homers while posting a 5.37 ERA.

The righty has given up three homers in his two outings since coming off the injured list, and the Washington bullpen (4.84 ERA) has allowed more home runs (79) than any other team in the league.

Plus, Crow-Armstrong is 3-for-9 with a double, a homer and five runs batted in against Irvin in his career. I love this matchup for the Cubs star as he looks to build on a strong start to the month of August.

Cubs vs. Nationals Prediction and Pick

Washington enters this series on a three-game winning streak, but I can’t get behind it – even at home – with Irvin on the mound.

The right-hander has led the Nationals to a 7-6 record this season, but he has a 5.37 ERA and ranks in the ninth percentile in expected ERA. On top of that, Irvin ranks in the second percentile in barrel percentage and the 13th percentile in hard-hit percentage this season.

Both of these teams have elite offenses, ranking in the top three in the league in Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+). However, Imanaga has been by far the better starter, especially since July 1.

The lefty has a 1.57 ERA in six starts, allowing 33 hits in 34.1 innings of work. Chicago is under .500 in Imanaga’s outings this season, but it should be able to beat up on a Washington pitching staff that has a bottom-five bullpen in ERA this season.

Pick: Cubs Moneyline (-159 at DraftKings)

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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