The Chicago Cubs are back in action at Wrigley Field this Saturday, looking to bounce back after a tough 10-4 opening day loss to the Washington Nationals. First pitch is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET, and the energy in Chicago is already building as fans hope to see their team even the series. While the Cubs are favored by most sportsbooks, the Nationals arrive with momentum and a lineup eager to prove that their opening win was no fluke.
Thursday’s opener was a stunner for many Cubs supporters. The Nationals, not widely expected to challenge for the division title, erupted for 10 runs against a Cubs team that had high hopes coming into the season. Brad Lord picked up the win for Washington, pitching 2.1 innings and allowing just one run on four hits. Joey Wiemer was the offensive star, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, launching a home run and driving in a run. On the other side, Cubs starter Matthew Boyd struggled, surrendering six runs on six hits in just 3.2 innings and taking the loss.
With the series now 1-0 in favor of the Nationals, Saturday’s matchup has raised the stakes for the Cubs. The home team enters as a significant favorite, listed at -248 by BetMGM and -222 elsewhere, with the Nationals at +201 and +183, respectively. The over/under is set at either 8.5 or 9 runs, suggesting oddsmakers expect more fireworks at the Friendly Confines.
Chicago turns to Cade Horton for his first start of the season. Horton, a 24-year-old right-hander, impressed last year with a 2.67 ERA, a 1.085 WHIP, and an 11-4 record over 23 games. He last pitched on September 23, 2025, going three innings against the New York Mets. Horton finished his Cactus League schedule on a high note, tallying 13 strikeouts and just one walk over his final two starts, and even touched 99 mph on the radar gun—his highest velocity since entering the majors. With his breaking stuff looking sharp, many believe Horton is the right man to steady the Cubs after their rocky opener.
“If there’s anyone you’d want on the mound as an equalizer, it’s him,” noted Cubs Insider, referencing Horton’s late-spring dominance and his ability to handle pressure situations.
The Cubs’ lineup for Saturday features Michael Busch at first base, Alex Bregman at third, Ian Happ in left, Pete Crow-Armstrong in center, Nico Hoerner at second, Dansby Swanson at shortstop, Moises Ballesteros as the designated hitter, Matt Shaw in right, and Miguel Amaya behind the plate. The club is counting on this group to rediscover the offensive punch that made them one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball last season.
Chicago’s 2025 campaign was impressive by many measures. The team went 92-70 overall, including a 50-31 record at home. They were favored in 120 games, winning 77 (64.2%) and posting an 8-2 record when favored by -248 or more. Offensively, the Cubs ranked sixth in MLB with 223 home runs, boasted a .430 slugging percentage, and finished fifth in total runs scored with 793. Their .249 team batting average and .320 on-base percentage were both above league average, and they struck out just 7.9 times per game, sixth best in the majors.
But the Cubs are dealing with a rash of injuries early on. Porter Hodge (elbow), Seiya Suzuki (knee), Justin Steele (elbow), Jordan Wicks (forearm), Shelby Miller (elbow), and Christopher Austin (knee) are all sidelined, testing the team’s depth as the season gets underway.
On the mound for the Nationals is veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas. Making his first start of the year, Mikolas is coming off a 2025 season in which he posted an 8-11 record, a 4.84 ERA, and a 1.318 WHIP over 31 appearances. He last faced the Cubs on September 26, 2025, tossing five innings. While Mikolas has been known as a strike-thrower since returning to MLB from Japan, his strikeout rate has dipped to just 16.0% over the past three seasons, and his fastball velocity fell to a career-low 92.9 mph last year.
Recent history hasn’t been kind to Mikolas when facing the Cubs. In two starts against Chicago last season, he gave up 10 hits and six home runs in a single July 4 outing, then surrendered more long balls in their September meeting. The Cubs’ roster has feasted on Mikolas, compiling a .305/.316/.556 slash line with 11 home runs against him. Pete Crow-Armstrong, in particular, has torched Mikolas, slugging an eye-popping 2.556 with a 3.333 OPS and five home runs in just nine at-bats.
“As a collective, this Cubs roster carries a .305/.316/.556 slash line with 11 homers against Mikolas,” observed Cubs Insider, highlighting the lopsided matchup. “PCA accounts for a huge chunk of that, as he is slugging 2.556 with a 3.333 OPS and five homers in just nine at-bats.”
Washington, meanwhile, is also dealing with pitching injuries. Trevor Williams (elbow), Josiah Gray (elbow), Paxton Schultz (elbow), and DJ Herz (elbow) are all on the injured list, leaving the Nationals’ staff thin as the season gets underway.
The Nationals’ 2025 season saw them go 66-96 overall, including a 34-47 mark on the road. They were underdogs in 140 games, winning 59 (42.1%), and managed six wins in 14 games as +201 or worse on the moneyline. Offensively, they hit 161 home runs (24th in MLB), slugged .389, and posted a .242 batting average. Their .304 on-base percentage ranked 25th, and they scored 687 runs, 20th in the majors. The team averaged 8.1 hits per game and struck out 8.3 times per contest, ranking 14th in MLB.
Weather could play a role in today’s contest, with winds expected to blow out to left and center at around 9 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph. That could add some extra drama—and perhaps a few extra home runs—to an already intriguing pitching matchup.
As the Cubs and Nationals prepare to square off, both teams are looking to set the tone for the rest of the series. The Cubs want to prove that their opening loss was just a blip, while the Nationals aim to show that their offense is for real. With Horton’s electric arm and a Cubs lineup that has battered Mikolas in the past, all eyes are on Wrigley for what promises to be a lively afternoon of baseball.
Stay tuned as the action unfolds—this one has all the makings of a classic early-season showdown on Chicago’s North Side.