On the afternoon of September 22, 2024, the Washington Nationals are set to clash with the Chicago Cubs at the historic Wrigley Field. The first pitch is slated for 2:20 PM under conditions forecasted to be moderately rainy, setting the stage for an intriguing baseball encounter.

Pitching for the Nationals will be Jake Irvin, who carries an ERA of 4.065 into the game. His counterpart from the Cubs, Shota Imanaga, will take the mound with a commendable ERA of 3.030. As the teams gear up for this confrontation, their season standings tell the story of their challenging campaigns. The Nationals sit 13th in the NL East with a 69-86 record, reflecting a struggle throughout the season, while the Cubs rank 8th in the NL Central, holding a slightly better 79-76 record.

Both teams have shown similar recent forms, securing 4 wins in their last 10 games. The Nationals are coming off a win, hoping to build a streak, whereas the Cubs aim to rebound from a recent loss. Looking at day and night game performances, both teams have displayed balanced efforts with the Nationals going 34-35 in day games, and the Cubs 36-43.

Regarding the betting odds, the Cubs are favored at home with a money line of -196, while the Nationals are underdogs at +167. The point spread is set at 1.5 in favor of the Cubs, and the over/under for the game is pegged at 7.5. These odds suggest a tight contest, with the Cubs having a slight edge, potentially due to their slightly superior season performance and home field advantage. Bettors focusing on these metrics might find interests in the underdog appeal of the Nationals or the steadiness of the Cubs in this matchup.