Cubs vs. Nationals Series Starting Pitcher Betting, DFS Strategies: June 4-7

Gambling911.com has your Cubs vs. Nationals series starting pitcher betting and DFS Strategies for the next few days.

Team Head-to-Head Synopsis:

The last three games of this series played a few days ago in Chicago all ended with totals UNDER 6.  The last three games of this series played in DC last year featured two of three that went OVER 8. 

Seven of the Cubs last eight games overall have totaled 7 or UNDER.  Six of their last eight away games have totaled 7 or UNDER. 

Eight of the Nationals last twelve games have totaled 7 or UNDER.  The OVER does tend to get an edge with games played in Washington when looking at the full month of May.

WIN/LOSS – Nationals Slight Edge

TOTAL - UNDER (but more so if this series were being played in Chicago)

Thursday June 4:

Jake Arrieta (Cubs) - Arrieta gave up four runs on eight hits -- including three home runs -- over seven innings in a no-decision against the Royals on Friday.  The three home runs allowed matched Arrieta's single-game career high and his total from his first nine starts of the season combined, suggesting he could be back on track against Washington on Thursday though he has had difficulties against the current Cubs roster, allowing 27 hits on 78 at bats.

Danny Espinosa – While not that intimidating this season thus far, he’s had success against Arrieta, going 3-for-7 with a homer.

Bryce Harper – is 4-for-9 against him, making him a solid roster option today.

With Denard Span (knee) sidelined, Yunel Escobar hit leadoff in both games of Tuesday's double-header, going 2-for-6 with two walks and a run scored. He has hit in seven of ten games including three in which he’s hit twice.  Escobar has enjoyed success against Arrieta.

He has pitched six or more innings in his last four starts.  All but one of those totaled 7 or OVER.  Three of the previous four games he started in ended with seven total runs scored.

Gio Gonzalez (Nationals) – Gonzalez gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks over 5.1 innings in a no-decision Saturday. He struck out six.

Four of the last five games he has started have ended with scores OVER 10.  In the last seven games for which he started, the bullpen only imploded in one of those games (the last one).

NO EDGE

Friday June 5:

Tsuyoshi Wada (Cubs) - He had pitched just over 14 innings this season, allowing only 4 runs over that time.

Tanner Roark (Nationals)

NOT ENOUGH STATS

Saturday June 6:

Jason Hammel (Cubs) – Hammel gave up just one run on five hits in 6.2 innings of work to earn the win against Miami on Monday.  He's now 4-2 on the season with a 2.82 ERA and a gaudy 0.90 WHIP in 67 innings pitched.  He has permitted less than 4 runs in seven of his ten starts this season and four runs in the other three.   Six of the last eight games he has started in the Cubs allowed 4 or less runs to be scored. 

Undecided (Nationals)

Sunday June 7:

Kyle Hendricks (Cubs) - Hendricks gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven in six innings Tuesday in Miami.  He’s made it through six innings in three straight games now and each of those games totaled seven or less.  Assuming this trend were to continue, the UNDER looks favorable. 

Jordan Zimmermann (Nationals) - Zimmermann tossed eight scoreless innings Tuesday, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out four against the Blue Jays to pick up his fifth win of the season.  He has only allowed three runs in his last four starts.  He has not permitted more than 3 runs in his last nine starts.

Zimmerman did not allow any runs against the Cubs last season. 

Monitor the UNDER.  We would be all over the UNDER if Zimmerman had a bad outing his last start though.

Anthony Rizzo has hit in nine of his last ten games.  He is 4-for-10 against Zimmermann and needs to be in your lineup today.

Addison Russell has hit in seven of his last ten games overall and is 2-for-3 against Zimmermann with a double.

- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com