MLB matchup analysis
Cubs vs Nationals Prediction, Odds and Model Pick
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at Nationals Park · 6:45 PM ET
LyDia prediction: Chicago Cubs moneyline
The case for Chicago Cubs
The case for Washington Nationals
Why it is not official
Why the setup score is what it is
Read the full model output
Chicago Cubs remains on the watchlist. Lab Rating 6.5/10: conviction 9.01, pitching plan 20, bullpen 11.08, offense 25. LyDia projects 55.7% against a 60.4% no-vig market number, a -4.7% model edge at -159. Chicago Cubs owns the starting pitcher edge by 24 points. Bullpen read: Elevated volatility. Chicago Cubs's pen efficiency: Average (5.4/10). Pitching plan: TBD 4.5 IP + remaining bullpen 4.5 IP. Bullpen fatigue, efficiency, and combined risk grade only the innings assigned to the bullpen. Lineup check: Chicago Cubs is a touch above its season form (+0.025 OPS); Washington Nationals is in a cold stretch (-0.070 OPS). Recent form supports this side and is included in the unified run projection.
Game information
| Matchup | Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, August 11, 2026 |
| First pitch | 6:45 PM ET |
| Venue | Nationals Park |
| Starting pitchers | Shota Imanaga vs TBD |
| Weather | Game-time forecast: 84°F, 13% precipitation chance, 3 mph wind from N. |
Starting pitcher matchup
Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →| Metric | Cubs | Nationals |
|---|---|---|
| Pitching plan | Traditional starter | Role unknown |
| Expected innings | 5⅔ | 4⅔ |
| Throws | L | Not available |
| LyDia pitcher score (higher is better) | 74 | 50 |
| ERA (lower is better) | 3.60 | Not available |
| WHIP (lower is better) | 1.09 | Not available |
| K/9 (higher is better) | 8.5 | Not available |
| K-BB% (higher is better) | 18.0% | Not available |
| K% (higher is better) | 23.5% | Not available |
| BB% (lower is better) | 5.4% | Not available |
| BB/9 (lower is better) | 2.0 | Not available |
| HR/9 (lower is better) | 1.7 | Not available |
| Ground-ball rate | 41.2% | Not available |
| Fly-ball rate | 58.8% | Not available |
Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Shota Imanaga a 24-point edge over TBD, driven mainly by expected innings (5.8 vs 4.5).
How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table. Highlighted cells mark a gap big enough to matter. K% and BB% are strikeout and walk rate as a share of batters faced -- K-BB% is the two combined into one skill number. HR/9 is home runs allowed per nine innings. Ground-ball and fly-ball rate are neither good nor bad on their own: high ground-ball pitchers trade strikeouts for double plays and fewer home runs, and on this data source the two rates are complementary (they add to 100%), not independent reads.
Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →
Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.
Recent form
Full Stats page →Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10, averaging 5.2 runs per game over the last 15 days, and swinging above their season form; Nationals are 4-6 in their last 10, averaging 4.2 runs per game over the last 15 days, and hitting below their season form. On the season Cubs carry the better run differential per game (+0.90 against +0.20).
| Metric | Cubs | Nationals |
|---|---|---|
| Last 10 | 7-3 | 4-6 |
| Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home) | 7-3 on the road | 6-4 at home |
| OPS, last 15 days | 0.781 | 0.697 |
| wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read) | 0.342 | 0.311 |
| Runs per game, last 15 days | 5.2 | 4.2 |
| K% last 15 days (lower is better) | 21.5% | 22.7% |
Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.
30-day offense
Full offense tool →| Last 30 days | Cubs | Nationals |
|---|---|---|
| OPS | 0.790 (+0.034 vs szn) | 0.798 (+0.031 vs szn) |
| Runs per game | 5.75 (+0.590 vs szn) | 5.42 (+0.058 vs szn) |
| wOBA (model offense input) | 0.347 (+0.013 vs szn) | 0.349 (+0.013 vs szn) |
| K% (lower is better) | 23.1% (+1.3% vs szn) | 21.7% |
Over the last 30 days the Nationals have been the better offense, 0.349 wOBA to 0.347. They are running hot against their own season line (+0.013 wOBA).
Season profile
Full Stats page →| Metric | Cubs | Nationals |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 69-50 | 59-61 |
| Run differential / game (team quality) | +0.90 | +0.20 |
| Runs scored / game (offense, season) | 5.16 | 5.36 |
| Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better) | 4.26 | 5.16 |
| Season OPS | 0.756 | 0.767 |
| K% season (lower is better) | 21.8% | 21.5% |
| OPS vs opposing hand (season) | Not available | 0.782 |
Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.
The Map
Full interactive map →Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Cubs and Nationals are highlighted.
Bullpen matchup
Full Bullpen Fatigue Index →Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.
| Metric | Cubs | Nationals |
|---|---|---|
| Fatigue | 5.7/10, Normal | 6.8/10, Tired |
| Efficiency | 5.4/10, Average | 6.4/10, Effective |
| Combined risk | 5.5/10, Normal | 6.1/10, Normal |
| Relief innings, last 7 days | 21.3 | 29.7 |
| Back-to-back arms | 6 | 3 |
| 7-day ERA | 4.22 | 2.43 |
| 7-day WHIP | 1.03 | 1.04 |
Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.
Run total projection
Full Totals Projections →The model projects 1.6 runs above the market total. A research lean still requires a setup rating of at least 7.0/10. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.
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