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Cubs vs Nationals Picks and Predictions September 5th 2025
As the regular season winds down, the Chicago Cubs look to sharpen their postseason push against a Washington Nationals team coming off an unlikely sweep. Friday’s matchup kicks off a three-game series at Wrigley Field, and it comes with a handful of betting angles worth watching.
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Can Rested Pete Crow-Armstrong Bounce Back?
After a brutal August in which he hit just .160 with a .446 OPS, Pete Crow-Armstrong is expected to return to the Cubs’ lineup on Friday. The All-Star center fielder had 25 home runs and 71 RBIs at the break, but has added just 3 homers and 12 RBIs since.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell made the decision to give Crow-Armstrong three full days of rest — both mental and physical.
“We’re giving him a real break… going into the last 3 1/2 weeks of the season, hopefully, a little bit refreshed,” Counsell said.
Crow-Armstrong entered Wednesday’s game as a late defensive replacement and had Thursday off as the Cubs travel home.
Cubs Starting Javier Assad in Opener
Right-hander Javier Assad will make his fifth start since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa. The 28-year-old earned his first win of the season last weekend, allowing three runs over six innings in a 4-3 win against the Rockies.
Assad has faced the Nationals three times in his career — twice as a starter — and holds a 1-0 record with a 3.38 ERA over 16 innings.
Cubs Recent Form
The Cubs enter the weekend at 80-60 and are currently holding strong in the National League Wild Card picture. A strong series against Washington could give them breathing room.
| Team | Record | Last 5 Games | Current Streak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs | 80-60 | 3-2 | W1 |
| Washington Nationals | 56-83 | 3-2 | W3 |
Keep up with the latest MLB scores and odds to spot real-time betting value.
Nationals Gaining Momentum After Sweep
The Nationals just completed a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins, snapping a rough eight-game losing streak. They now look to win four in a row for the first time since May.
Brady House Leading the Offense
Rookie third baseman Brady House is heating up. He’s 5-for-12 over the past four games with a double, a home run, and four RBIs. Since his MLB debut in June, House has steadily improved, with his third home run coming in Wednesday’s win over Miami.
Nationals Starting Jake Irvin
Right-hander Jake Irvin (8-10, 5.42 ERA) will start Friday’s opener. August was rough — 0-5 with an 8.78 ERA — but his latest outing was solid: six innings of four-run ball in a loss to Tampa Bay.
Still, Irvin has struggled badly against Chicago. In four career starts, he’s 0-3 with an 8.00 ERA over 18 innings.
Pitching Matchup Breakdown
Here’s how the two starters compare heading into Friday’s game:
| Pitcher | W-L | ERA | Innings (Last Start) | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Javier Assad (Cubs) | 1-1 | 4.05 | 6 IP, 3 ER vs Rockies | Washington Nationals |
| Jake Irvin (Nationals) | 8-10 | 5.42 | 6 IP, 4 ER vs Rays | Chicago Cubs |
Given Irvin’s past issues against Chicago, Assad and the Cubs might have a clear edge.
Player to Watch: Pete Crow-Armstrong
This game could be a turning point for Crow-Armstrong. Here’s a look at his performance before and after the All-Star break:
| Split | AVG | OPS | Home Runs | RBIs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-All-Star | .265 | .847 | 25 | 71 |
| Post-All-Star | .180 | .521 | 3 | 12 |
If his bat wakes up down the stretch, it could be a game-changer for the Cubs.
Picks and Predictions
With Irvin’s poor history vs Chicago and Crow-Armstrong set to return with fresh legs, this looks like a strong opportunity for the Cubs.
Pick: Cubs -1.5
Prediction: Cubs 6, Nationals 2
Need help building a betting strategy? Check out the full MLB betting guide.
Explore the Teams
Want to know more about each team? Dive deeper here:
FAQs
Who is starting for the Cubs?
Javier Assad will get the start after a quality outing vs. the Rockies.
Is Pete Crow-Armstrong playing?
Yes, he’s expected to return to the starting lineup after three days off.
How has Jake Irvin performed vs the Cubs?
Irvin is 0-3 with an 8.00 ERA in four career starts against Chicago.
What’s the Nationals’ current win streak?
They’ve won three straight after sweeping the Marlins.
Who’s the hottest Nationals hitter?
Brady House is swinging a hot bat with five hits and four RBIs in his last four games.
Where can I find more MLB picks?
Head over to the latest MLB picks and predictions.
