Cubs at Nationals NL Division Series Predictions 2017

2017 National League Division Series Betting

The first National League Division series to get going is the one with the closest odds as oddsmakers have pegged this Cubs/Nationals series as nearly a coin flip.

Chicago returns to the playoffs as the defending champs with a huge target on their back, yet they are the ones that are slight underdogs here because they've been rather inconsistent in 2017, and looked nowhere near as dominant as they did in 2016.

Washington returns to the playoffs for the second consecutive year, and fourth time in the last six seasons, but this organization has been saddled with the reputation of underperforming in October as they've never gotten past this round in their three previous tries.

Nats fans are hoping 2017 will be much different, and there is no question that if they are able to knock off the defending champs and get to their first NLCS, the amount of confidence this team will have going forward will be through the roof.

2017 NLDS Betting Odds - To Win Series

Chicago Cubs (+110) vs. Washington Nationals (-130) - Odds taken from Bet365

Chicago is looking to become the first MLB team to defend their World Series title since the Yankees won three straight at the turn of the century.

They've got the pedigree from last year's run as something to draw on, but it's been clear all season that they aren't nearly as dominant as their team from a year ago. Chicago did play much better baseball after the All-Star break, and their is something to be said for a team that knows how to "turn it on" when they need too. It will be interesting to see how Chicago starts off this NLDS.

Washington knows they'll be judged by how they do this October after so many failures in the past and that tends to bring a lot of pressure. Another defeat in this round might prompt management to "blow the whole thing up" this winter, but the Nationals really believe 2017 will be different. They do come into this series a little hobbled with SP Max Scherzer dealing with a hamstring injury still, and OF Bryce Harper having just a few games under his belt during the final week after a lengthy DL stint. A banged up squad with a history of losing in October is not typically one many want to get behind, so will 2017 actually be different?

Who's Got The Edge Overall?

Washington won the season series with the Cubs 4-3, and they do have an edge from a defensive and pitching perspective. Nationals fans are hoping the old addage of "defense wins in the playoffs" holds true here, but you know those same fans will be praying to the baseball Gods at the first sign of adversity there team faces in this series.

Chicago's ability to turn it on is a significant attribute this time of year, but this Nationals team can hold their own offensively with Chicago, and that means the Cubs starting rotation is going to have to step up here. Manger John Maddon has decided to go with a questionable rotation of Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester, Jose Quintana, and Jake Arrieta for the first four games, and if that gamble pays off, we will likely end up seeing the Cubs in the NLCS again this year.

2017 NLDS Betting Pick: Washington Nationals  (-130)

Although there is the stigma of the Washington Nationals always choking under the pressure this time of year, I do believe 2017 will be different. Maddon's decision to set up his rotation the way he did is a big mistake in my opinion as Chicago could easily head back home for Game 3 down 0-2 in the series. The inconsistency the Cubs showed for much of the year on offense will likely cost them here as well, and the fact that we haven't seen a defending champ make it back to the Fall Classic since 2009 (Philadelphia Phillies) is a bit of history I don't want to go against.

But this play is all about this core group in Washington finally stepping up, embracing the moment and pressure, and playing their best baseball when they need it the most. They put up at least four runs in all seven of their games with Chicago this year, and 4 runs/game average in the playoffs should be good enough to get you through to the next round. At -130, the price tag on Washington finally getting over the hump has got plenty of value in it.

Category : Sports News

Tag : baseball betting , baseball odds , chicago cubs , mlb , mlb betting , mlb odds , mlb playoffs odds , washington nationals

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