Cubs vs. Nationals prediction: Why Cubs are favored to win Wednesday's MLB matchup [8/12/2026]

The Washington Nationals will take on the Chicago Cubs in MLB action at Nationals Park on Wednesday, commencing at 6:45 PM ET.

Jackson Kent (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will be the starting pitcher for the Nationals, while the Cubs have opted for David Peterson (6-7, 5.35 ERA).

Dimers' advanced MLB model projects the Cubs as the most likely winner in this Cubs vs. Nationals prediction.

This article offers further insights into Wednesday's matchup, including best bets and picks.

Cubs vs. Nationals prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using trusted machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Wednesday's MLB game between the Cubs and Nationals, forming part of our MLB predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model currently gives the Cubs a 59.0% chance of beating the Nationals.

According to our model, the Nationals (+1.5) have a 52.9% chance of covering the run line, while the over/under total of 9.5 runs has a 55.2% chance of going over,.

Cubs vs. Nationals odds [8/12/2026]

We have researched the best MLB odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

• Run Line: Cubs -1.5 (+108) / Nationals +1.5 (-108)
• Moneyline: Cubs -150, Nationals +147

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Cubs vs. Nationals picks and best bet

After matching our probabilities against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets in this matchup. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

• Run line: Nationals +1.5 @ -108 via DraftKings
• Moneyline: Nationals @ +147 via Novig
• Total: Over 9.5 @ +100 via Polymarket

According to our MLB best bets, the top play to make on this game is Over 9.5 total runs.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.

Cubs vs. Nationals game-day updates and essential details

Wednesday's MLB game between the Nationals and Cubs at Nationals Park is scheduled to commence at 6:45 PM ET.

• Who: Chicago Cubs vs. Washington Nationals
• Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
• Time: 6:45 PM ET/3:45PM PT
• Venue: Nationals Park

Conclusion

We predict the Cubs, with a 59.0% win probability, will likely beat the Nationals in Wednesday's MLB matchup.

Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.