One of those interesting games of thrones matchups that keeps us riveted to our seats even in the face of inclement weather. Washington Nationals visiting Chicago Cubs. Yes, a faceoff in Wrigley field that has a reputation to sway the game's direction, if you catch my drift.
Now, let's talk starters. The Nationals are going with Trevor Williams on the mound. His solid 2.27 ERA and a WHIP of just around 1.10 suggests this guy's got the balls, or rather throws them, quite well. The Cubs, on the other hand, are looking to Jameson Taillon to keep their hopes alive with a rather modest 3.62 ERA.
Oh, don't forget the stellar lineup on both sides. The Nationals wield a pretty decent arsenal with Jose Tena leading the pack. Jacob Young and Andres Chaparro tail him closely. But then, the Cubs have their own celebratory lineup in the form of Nico Hoerner and Seiya Suzuki both knocking that ball out of the park at over .330 average. Following them are Dansby Swanson and Cody Bellinger, who just love to swat that ball for home runs.
Looking at past matchups, it seems the Cubs have a bit of a winning streak going on, having emerged victorious in their last five meetings.
Considering recent matches, the Nats look a little under the weather while the Cubs seem determined to claw their way back to victory, despite a minor hiccup against Oakland on Sep 18, rebounding nicely on Sep 19 with a win over the Nats.
Regular season records also show a little more green on the Cubs' side, although we might want to discount a couple of not-so-glamorous seasons.
Looks like it's going to be a tough and exciting game, but I'm going with history and lineup strength here.
Albert’s Prediction: Chicago Cubs by 2