Game Details & TV Coverage
Saturday, September 6, 2025
2:20 PM ET at Wrigley Field
TV: Marquee Sports Network (Cubs) | MASN2 (Nationals)
The Cubs welcome the struggling Washington Nationals (56-84) to the Friendly Confines for Saturday afternoon baseball. With Matthew Boyd on the mound and our offense clicking, this looks like a perfect opportunity to take care of business against an inferior opponent and continue building momentum for our playoff push.
Current Betting Lines
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Nationals | +211 | +1.5 | Over 9 |
| Chicago Cubs | -262 | -1.5 | Under 9 |
The oddsmakers clearly favor us, and rightfully so. We’re 6-0 this season when favored by -262 or more, which tells you everything about how we handle games we’re supposed to win.
Starting Pitcher Matchup: Massive Advantage Cubs
Matthew Boyd – Chicago Cubs
- Record: 12-7, 2.94 ERA
- Season Stats: 142 strikeouts in 159⅓ innings
- Making his 28th start: Veteran lefty who’s been rock solid all season
Boyd has been one of our most consistent starters, and that 2.94 ERA shows why we feel confident every time he takes the ball. Against a Nationals lineup that’s struggled all year, he should dominate.
Brad Lord – Washington Nationals
- Record: 4-8 (tells the whole story)
- Making just his 15th start: Limited track record, questionable results
This is exactly the type of matchup we need to capitalize on. Lord hasn’t shown he can consistently get major league hitters out, and facing our lineup at Wrigley should be a real test for him.
Cubs Offense: Ready to Feast on Weak Pitching
Kyle Tucker: Our MVP Candidate
Tucker continues to be everything we hoped for when we traded for him. That .381 OBP and .472 slugging percentage shows he’s been our most complete hitter. When he’s locked in, our entire lineup feeds off his approach.
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Breakout Season
PCA has been a revelation with 28 homers and 85 RBIs while slugging .494. This is exactly the type of production we needed from center field, and he’s become a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat.
Nico Hoerner’s Consistency
Hoerner leads the team with a .290 batting average, providing the contact and situational hitting that makes our offense so dangerous. He’s been the perfect complement to our power guys.
Seiya Suzuki’s Run Production
Suzuki leads us with 89 RBIs despite hitting .244. That’s clutch hitting when it matters, and against Washington’s 5.34 team ERA, he should have plenty of opportunities.
Why This Should Be a Comfortable Win
Nationals’ Offensive Struggles
Washington ranks 23rd in runs scored (4.2 per game) and 28th in home runs (131 total). They simply don’t have the firepower to keep up with our offense, especially at Wrigley.
Their Pitching is Atrocious
The Nationals have a 5.34 team ERA (29th in MLB). We’re averaging 5.0 runs per game (7th in MLB), so this matchup heavily favors our bats.
Our Home Field Advantage
We’re 65-37 when favored this season (63.7% win rate), and Wrigley has been good to us. Saturday afternoon baseball with a favorable pitching matchup is exactly when we need to take care of business.
Tucker’s Injury Status: Key Concern
The fact that Kyle Tucker is listed as day-to-day with a calf injury is something to monitor. He’s been our best hitter, and if he can’t go, it significantly impacts our offensive ceiling. Hopefully it’s just precautionary given our comfortable lead in this matchup.
What We’re Facing from Washington
James Wood: Their Bright Spot
Wood leads the Nationals with 27 homers and 86 RBIs. He’s a legitimate talent who could cause problems if Boyd isn’t careful. This is the one guy in their lineup who can change a game with one swing.
C.J. Abrams’ Contact Ability
Abrams leads them with a .265 average. While not spectacular, he can get on base and create opportunities for their limited power threats.
Overall Assessment
This is a team that’s 56-84 for a reason. They don’t hit for power, their pitching is among the worst in baseball, and they’re essentially playing out the string.
Keys to Victory for the Cubs
- Boyd attacks the strike zone – Don’t overthink this matchup against inferior hitters
- Jump on Lord early – Get into their bullpen and make them use arms they don’t want to use
- Take advantage of scoring opportunities – This is exactly the kind of game where we should put up a big number
- Play clean defense – Don’t give them extra outs when we have this much of an advantage
Cubs Fan Prediction & Analysis
Final Score: Cubs 7, Nationals 3
This feels like a classic “take care of business” game. Boyd should cruise through 6-7 innings, while our offense puts up multiple crooked numbers against their struggling pitching staff.
The over 9 runs might be tempting given Washington’s pitching problems, but Boyd’s consistency suggests he’ll keep them off the board enough that we won’t need a shootout.
Why We Win:
- Superior pitching matchup (Boyd vs. questionable starter)
- Much better offensive lineup top to bottom
- Home field advantage in a day game at Wrigley
- Playing a team that’s clearly inferior and out of contention
What This Game Means for Our Season
These are exactly the games championship teams win convincingly. We can’t afford to play down to Washington’s level – we need to establish dominance early and cruise to victory.
With the playoff race heating up, every home win against inferior competition becomes crucial. Our fans deserve to see us handle business against a team like this.
Final Thoughts for Cubs Fans
Saturday afternoon baseball at Wrigley against an overmatched opponent – this is what September baseball should look like for a contending team. Boyd gives us a quality start, our offense does what it does, and we move one step closer to October.
Let’s not overthink this one. We’re better, we’re at home, and we have the pitching advantage. Time to show why we’re playoff contenders and they’re planning for 2026.
With every Cubs home game mattering for playoff positioning, Saturday’s matchup against Washington represents the kind of game championship teams win convincingly.